I have added a few new routines to my daily fitness regime and have achieved great results. After a month of the new fitness regime, I weighed 171.5 pounds this morning, the lowest weight I have had since I was 25, and weighed 165 pounds. I was recovering from Thyroid after three weeks in the hospital in Korea during the Peace Corps. For more on that ordeal, see Cheating Death 22 times below My daily blood sugar readings hit 102 today, last week it hit 98 two days in a row before going up to 115, then back down. My goal is to reach 170 pounds and 98 or less blood sugar levels and stabilize both. My Cholesterol levels are also in the normal range now. These goals are easily achievable.
New Routine
Daily walking 21 flights of stairs prior to and after each meal for a total of six times per day. I have gained muscles in my legs and core area, dropped my belly fat and dropped my blood sugar levels and feel a lot more energetic. This is followed by a daily trip to the Gym including a one mile walk.
GYM once a day
I joined a local gym and got a personal trainer. I have one session per week as does Angela. I go most days at 5 pm and do
25 minutes of Yoga including jumping jacks, squats, and short meditation and affirmations at the end,
followed by 25 minutes of weights,
25 minutes treadmill,
and 15 minutes in the personal sauna
before taking a shower
followed by a one-mile walk to and from the gym.
I will continue going to a gym daily following the same routine when I am in DC and Oregon this summer.
daily walking to/from gym
Daily riding Exercise ball and bike at home while watching TV etc or clearing emails.
limit coffee to three cups per day
limit drinking to three nights per week
limit carbs
weekly blood sugar testing
Weight Loss –
Down to 170 pounds (77.11 kg) First, I successfully lost weight and kept it off. At the beginning of January, 2024, I was 195 lbs, ( 88.45)and now I am 170-175 lbs most days.
. How did I do it, you ask?
Well, first of all, I lost almost 15 pounds (7 kg) due to a bronchial infection in January 2024, which could have been another bout with COVID, though I did not test for it. After that, I continued to change my diet and exercise program, leading to sustained weight loss.
Changes to Diet –
Processed Foods Out, More Beans, and Veggies. Every day I eat homemade kefir or smoothies for breakfast, followed by fried rice, eggs, and soup or salad for lunch. Dinner consists of salad or fish or chicken, occasionally lean beef, but most importantly, no carbs for dinner. I have added beans to my daily diet – the key is sprouting beans overnight before cooking them. I add them to soups, salads, and even as a snack.
I reduced the amount of wine I’ve been drinking, now only having it every other day at most.
I cut out all junk food, bread, cereal except oatmeal, pastries, chocolate, and no ice cream, and I have reduced cereal consumption. Every other day I am vegan or vegetarian. Finally, we go out to eat no more than three or four times per week.
Bitter Melon/Ugly Potato/Wormwood Tea I have added drinking bitter melon tea throughout the day and reduced my coffee consumption to two cups in the morning. I still drink homemade kombucha but limit it to one glass per morning. I drink tea in the afternoon. A day without Earl Grey is not a good day, after all.
Pre-and Post Meal Stair Walking
i walk up and down 20 flights of stairs in my highrise before and after each meal for a total of six sessions.
Reduction in Cholesterol/Glucose Levels
As a result of my weight loss, I have reduced my cholesterol level to the normal range, from the high level it was in January. I’ve also reduced my blood sugar level to almost normal levels from a pre-diabetic level. My latest number was 106, with the target number being 100. The most important thing is I will be able to avoid taking cholesterol, diabetic, and high blood pressure medications.
Weekly Chiropractic Massage
My insurance covers chiropractic and therapeutic massages up to 50 per year, and we have a good massage place we go to once a week. Goal The goal is to avoid having to take cholesterol, diabetic, and high blood pressure medications for life and to keep my weight down to 170-175 from now on.
Weekly acupuncture treatment for chronic pain, fibromyalgia
Daily cergem acupressure massage bed while reading
Weekly three to four mile walk
Daily one mile walk to/from Gym
Bi-weekly moxibustion treatment
Daily Yoga including daily meditation and affirmations
I end all my yoga sessions at the gym and at home (first time in the morning ) with a short affirmation as follows:
I have added daily affirmations to my yoga practice in the morning and in the gym
Chanting one to ten
Then repeating the following affirmations
Each affirmation repeated five times
Today will be a good day
I am healthy, wealthy and wise
I am filled with gratitude
I am still loved by my wife
I still love my wife
I still have great friends who love me
Everything will be okay
I will survive the Trump fascist takeover
Om shanti
Daily
Stair walking
Six Sets of stairs 120 total
Six Set Chair Yoga
Six Set Yoga Stretches
Six Set Weights
Gym
Daily weights
Daily yoga including affirmations
Daily jumping jacks
Daily squats
Daily meditation
Daily treadmill
Daily sauna
15 three sets of 50 reps per weight
30 minutes of Yoga
5 sets of 50-step reps
5k on the bike
3 miles walk.
Grip periodically
100 reps
Standing desk
for two hours pull up/swing
10 wear the pain patch 2 hours
neck shoulder massage unit:
Moxibustion Acupuncture
weekly Massage weekly
in park
pull down 200.
wheel 200
in the park
cross trainer
Diet
Diet routine
Limit pasta/rice carbs to lunch
Kefir, Oatmeal or smoothie for breakfast
Salad or kefir for dinner
Wine or cocktail no more than three times per week
Go out for meals no more than four times per week
Coffee
The first two cups are fully loaded
– coffee, decafe, with, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper and milk. Sometimes I add in protein plant superfood s from Costco and occasionally coconut oil
Smoothie Blues
blueberries
.
my daily breakfast consists of either a smoothie, oatmeal or kefir.
all blended to perfection that is my daily breakfast fit for a champion.
or oatmeal with apples, banana, blueberries, and strawberries, or kefir with apples, banana, blueberries, and strawberries, sometimes followed by apples, boiled egg and cheese.
Salt Of Life
Every day
I eat a little Himalayan
Pink Salt In my food.
That and real salt From Salt Lake City
Will enable me.
To live to be A ripe old man.
So, my advice to you all
Add real salt to your food,
And watch your weight go down,
And your life extension begins.
Creative Writing Routine
For my daily writing copy my writing to my creative writing journal and to my spreadsheet after each morning writing session and to corresponding subject files should take about 30 minutes to 45 minutes and its worth it to keep better organized
Do WC prompts daily, Fan story every other day
and resume Pensively once a week (not posting)
copy reviewed poems to my book read list daily
Posting on All poetry. Poetry Soup. Cosmos Funnel, Poetry Magnum Opus FB poetry sites pick two per day, and Poet Hunter once a week or so
Once a week pick 7 poems to post and three new ones for contest entries. Post Same ten poems posted on WC or FS so I can save some for publication
Pick five to ten unpublished poems per week mix of new and old
Submit three times per week on average
Blog on or two times per week
Reading
Continue alternating between Classics, Poetry thrillers etc
Next up finish Sister Carrie by Theodore Dressler then Publo Nurundo Poems in Spanish and English
part of 50 Books to Read Volume 2.
Piano Daily 45 minutes
Buy MIDI cable and music software Resume writing music
When we moved to Yeongjong island, near the Incheon Airport, we found that we would be deprived of two of our three favorite miracle foods, Kombucha and Kefir. But we were pleasantly surprised to find we could order our third favorite health food item, wheat grass for home delivery. Have not seen it in the stores but have seen it in some smoothie places as well as home delivery. best to mix it in a smoothie. Wheatgrass juice does not taste that great!
Growing Kombucha and Kefir in Korea
Kombucha
Living in Oregon was great. Kombucha is everywhere. Costco carries Kombucha everywhere except in Korea. The best brand we found was Gingerade. But I liked sampling the kombucha everywhere, several bars brew it on-site and you can fill up a growler and take it home.
What is Kombucha, you ask? It is fermented tea, filled with powerful probiotics and it is so good for your health. It does contain 1 percent alcohol so that should not get you into trouble with the new draconian drunk driving laws here in Korea!
Since neither the Commissary nor Costco nor anyone else carried it, or even knew what it was, we decided that we had to brew it ourselves. The starter kit we brought with us had gone bad. So, we bought kombucha from Amazon and used that and the leftover starter kit to get started.
We used green tea as the base. Straight black tea and jasmine tea will work but not Earl Grey due to the bergamot oil in the tea.
We brewed up several gallons of tea, added sugar, the starter kit, and the cans of kombucha. Then we put it in a sprouted warmer kit ordered from Amazon and wrapped another gallon in an electric blanket. You have to keep the kombucha at about 80 degrees F (26.67 Celsius).
Then we waited for six weeks. Finally ready to go today and we bottled it and started our next batch!
Here’s what it looks like with the scuzzy taken out of the kombucha.
Ode to Kombucha
gt-kombucha
Kombucha
Only drink it in the morning
Morning Delight
By the dawning sun
Up at the morning dawn
Can’t wait for my morning cup
Have to have my kombucha
At least once a day.
Ode to Kefir
Kefir
Everyday
Food of the gods
In every way
Radiant health will follow.
I have been a COSTCO member since 1998. I love COSTCO. It is one of the best corporations in the world and always does things right. In short, they have Soul. My home COSTCO was the Springfield, VA COSTCO, and the MEDFORD COSTCO and here in Korea, the Ilsang COSTCO and before that the SONGDO COSTCO, but I have shopped at many other COSTCO’s over the years.
Here are some of my Ode to COSTCO poems. I will send it to COSTCO HQ and report back if they respond.
BING AI provides some background to start us off.
COSTCO is an American multinational corporation that operates a chain of membership-only big-box retail stores, also known as warehouse clubs or wholesale clubs. COSTCO sells a wide range of products, from groceries and electronics to furniture and clothing, at discounted prices. COSTCO also offers services such as gas stations, pharmacies, optical centers, travel packages, and more. COSTCO is known for its Kirkland Signature brand, which is its private label of products that are often of high quality and low cost. COSTCO is also famous for its rotisserie chicken, hot dogs, and pizza, which are sold at its food courts.
COSTCO’s history dates back to 1976, when Sol Price, a pioneer in warehouse club retailing, opened the first Price Club in San Diego, California. Price Club was the world’s first membership warehouse club, a place where efficient buying and operating practices gave members access to unmatched savings. Price Club targeted small business owners, who could buy items in bulk for their use or resale. Price Club expanded rapidly, opening stores across the US and Canada.
In 1983, James Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman, two former Price Club executives, opened the first COSTCO in Seattle, Washington. COSTCO followed a similar business model as Price Club but also catered to individual consumers as well as businesses. COSTCO also differentiated itself by offering a wider selection of products, including fresh produce, meat, seafood, bakery, and deli items. COSTCO also introduced its Kirkland Signature brand in 1992, which soon became a hallmark of its quality and value proposition. COSTCO grew quickly, opening stores in various states and countries.
In 1993, Price Club and COSTCO merged to form Price/COSTCO, a company that combined the strengths and expertise of both warehouse clubs. The merger created the largest membership warehouse club chain in the world, with over 200 locations and 22 million members. In 1997, the company changed its name to COSTCO Companies, Inc., and in 1999, it adopted its current name, COSTCO Wholesale Corporation.
Today, COSTCO is the third largest retailer in the world and the largest retailer of choice and prime beef, organic foods, rotisserie chicken, and wine. COSTCO has over 860 warehouses worldwide, serving more than 127 million members in 14 countries. COSTCO’s mission is to continually provide its members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices. COSTCO’s vision is to be the most respected and successful warehouse club in the world.
This poem is about the narrator’s love for COSTCO, and how he finds everything he needs and wants there, including his soulmate.
I love going to COSTCO.
The lines are always worth the wait.
The people are always friendly.
The carts are always full of goodies.
The prices are always low.
The products are always high-quality.
The samples are always delicious.
The parking lot is always spacious.
I don’t want to go anywhere else.
COSTCO is my paradise.
COSTCO is my home.
COSTCO is my everything.
I find everything I need.
And want at COSTCO.
Food and drinks
And clothes and books.
Gadgets and toys,
And tools and furniture.
Jewelry and flowers,
And art and travel.
And most importantly,
Love.
COSTCO Wedding
I met my soul mate
while shopping at COSTCO
in suburban Virginia.
We were both reaching
For the last rotisserie chicken.
We locked eyes
and smiled.
sparks flew
from heart to heart
we shared coffee
and pizza
and talked
until they kicked us out
We decided
To share the chicken
And our lives.
We got married at COSTCO,
In front of the giant teddy bear.
the store general manager
We exchanged rings
From the jewelry section.
We cut a cake from the bakery.
the general manager
officiated the ceremony
attended by customers, family
and friends
shown on ZOOM
at every COSTCO
as this was the first
COSTCO Wedding!
We toasted with
Kirkland Signature champagne.
We danced to the music
From the electronics department.
We spent our honeymoon
At COSTCO in Spain.
In a tent
From the camping section.
We made love on a mattress
From the bedding section.
We cuddled under a blanket
From the home section
We dreamed of our future
At COSTCO.
Raising our kids,
And growing old together.
Shopping,
And saving
And living and loving
At COSTCO.
note: Not a true story, although we both love our COSTCO.
Lost Bag Nightmare
I am at a crowded cafeteria and a college campus I am an underground agent for the government and we are tracking the movements of a potential terrorist who has threatened to kill Palestinians and or Jewish kids at this college,
I put down my bag on on a counter and we went to track down the terrorists when we finished arresting them, avoiding a huge incident when we finished arresting the terrorists. I go back and find that my bag is completely gone.
I don’t know what to do. I lost my laptop and my phone and some money in it, and a library book.
I was devastated as I had lost my bag. I also realized I was stupid for leaving the bag unattended so I called my wife who was out of town. And she agreed I could go to COSTCO to replace the phone and the computer.
I arranged to do that but I missed my computer and missed my phone and I am upset at how stupid and careless I had been.
COSTCO Goes Green
thoughts while walking through COSTCO one day.
COSTCO announces a bold new strategy to combat climate change. They will put in every COSTCO warehouse and office building around the world solar panels and mini wind turbines to generate enough power to run their warehouses off the grid and to sell the power back to the local utilities if there is any excess power.
They also in some areas agreed to install geothermal water heating and solar water heating everywhere.
They also agree to fund local bus service so people can get to and from COSTCO from the nearest metro subway systems and they challenge Walmart, Sam’s, Target, and other large big box stores worldwide to follow suit. Most of them agreed to do so and join COSTO in forming the Green Business Alliance which will bring together the Corporate sector to jointly work on climate and renewable energy initiatives with governments and the academic sector, vowing to hold a COSTCO Foundation Green Energy annual summit bringing together business, academic and Government leaders to make concrete progress.
COSTCO said that saving the planet is the most important thing that they could do and that they would be fully supportive of a new Green Deal. They also will sell COSTCO renewable energy supplies and they will set up a renewable energy research corporation to help companies and individuals install renewable energy systems.
The progressive left hails COSTCO and conservatives denounce COSTCO for going “woke”. The public slides with COSTCO’s reputation and sales go way up.
Letter to COSTCO
Dear COSTCO
I have been a member since 1998. I have long admired your corporation for being a great corporation with progressive values. You are a leader in so many areas, not to mention that you are a great company to work for, sell great products at a great price, and have the best customer service in the world.
You do so many things you do right , and thank you for that, for all the good that you do every day. I would like to suggest that you do much more to combat climate change and become a leader in combating climate change, which as you are no doubt aware is an existential crisis. Climate change and the need to shift to a new Green Deal are imperative if we want to save the entire planet.
There are many things that corporations could do and it’s time for COSTCO to step up to do their part. At a minimum, I would recommend that you commit to putting in every single COSTCO warehouse worldwide solar panels on the rooftops and in shading over the car lots, and mini wind turbines so that each COSTCO will be carbon neutral and self-sufficient in terms of energy. This should also include setting up water harvesting systems so that all the water will be self-generated and solar water heaters as well. Excess power could be sold back to the local utilities at cost. I would also greatly expand electric vehicle charging stations.
COSTCO is unfortunately not that accessible to people without public transit. This is something that COSTCO should address. At a minimum, they should set up a free shuttle bus system going employees, visitors, and members taking people from the nearest metro subway stop to COSTCO and this should run during COSTCO business hours starting about 1/2 an hour before the opening of business ending a half an hour after the close of business. It should be free to the public and should run every half hour. This would be a very simple and cost-effective way to make sure that people can easily access COSTCO corporation shops and COSTCO should also consider contributing money to the local public transit companies to expand bus service in the COSTCO neighborhoods that they serve.
I would suggest you call upon your colleagues in the big box industries around the world to do the same, committing to addressing climate change, transit accessibility, and water conservation policies in every store worldwide. If COSTCO steps up and takes the lead, Walmart, Target and the other big market companies will feel they need to do the same. This commitment will make a tremendous difference around the world and it would not cost her much to do so in fact it would save money on energy for all your COSTCO operations worldwide
I’m asking you to commit to making every single COSTCO a green energy building do it for the sake of the planet thank you.
I have blogged about my positive experiences with COSTCO here and feel free to publish any of my COSTCO poems on your website and your magazines. Thanks again for doing everything you do.
As some of you might know, I have been following a fitness regime for many years. I offer these tips to you because I believe anyone can improve their health through daily exercise, and a better diet. It is never too late to get in shape! Let me know your fitness tips and I will share them here.
Here are some of my tips for physical fitness and suggestions. It must be working. I am usually about 187 pounds and don’t take any prescription drugs, my cholesterol levels are good as are my blood sugar levels although they are a bit higher than I want them to be. I suffer from Fibromyalgia, arthritis, and hammer toes. I also exercise daily, riding on my exercise bike while looking at my emails, and FB feeds, studying Korean, and going for a three-mile walk at least four times a month. Lately, I bought a pull-up bar and installed it on the doorway, and I do it periodically throughout the day, squats, and swings, working my way up to doing pull-ups. I write in my journal every morning, and I also go for a walk every day and play the piano daily. I eat a lot of homemade food including Kefir, and Kombucha. and I am gluten-free.
here are my diet recommendations, my physical exercise regime, my daily writing regime, and my piano-playing regime.
I hope it inspires you to take charge of your physical and mental fitness.
Coffee
I start my day by drinking coffee and watching the news while writing in my journals.
The first two cups are fully loaded – coffee, decaf, with yoga detox tea, cinnamon, nutmeg, and milk.
perfect cup of coffee
greatest comfort food is coffee
snarling cup of coffee
The first two cups are fully loaded – coffee, decafe, with yoga detox tea, cinnamon, wormwood tea,. nutmeg, and milk.
Sometimes I add in protein plant superfoods from Costco containing the following:
When we moved to Yeongjong island, near the Incheon Airport, we found that we would be deprived of two of our three favorite miracle foods, Kombucha and Kefir. But we were pleasantly surprised to find we could order our third favorite health food item, wheat grass for home delivery. Have not seen it in the stores but have seen it in some smoothie places as well as home delivery. best to mix it in a smoothie. Wheatgrass juice does not taste that great!
Living in Oregon was great. Kombucha is everywhere. Costco carries Kombucha everywhere except in Korea. The best brand we found was Gingerade. But I liked sampling the kombucha everywhere, several bars brew it on-site and you can fill up a growler and take it home.
What is Kombucha, you ask? It is fermented tea, filled with powerful probiotics and it is so good for your health. It does contain 1 percent alcohol so that should not get you into trouble with the new draconian drunk driving laws here in Korea!
Since neither the Commissary nor Costco nor anyone else carried it, or even knew what it was, we decided that we had to brew it ourselves. The starter kit we brought with us had gone bad. So, we bought kombucha from Amazon and used that and the leftover starter kit to get started.
We used green tea as the base. Straight black tea and jasmine tea will work but not Earl Grey due to the bergamot oil in the tea.
We brewed up several gallons of tea, added sugar, the starter kit, and the cans of kombucha. Then we put it in a sprouted warmer kit ordered from Amazon and wrapped another gallon in an electric blanket. You have to keep the kombucha at about 80 degrees F (26.67 Celsius).
Then we waited for six weeks. Finally ready to go today and we bottled it and started our next batch!
Here’s what it looks like with the scuzzy taken out of the kombucha.
Making Kefir was easy, we’ve been making it for years. We had started kits we bought in Oregon before we left. Just got some organic milk and we were in business. If you have to use Korean milk, make sure it is full-fat milk, 2 percent makes watery kefir. There are recipes for using almond milk, coconut milk, and rice milk but we have not used them because we heard it would be pretty watery. Might want to try Goat milk sometime though. The Commissary’s organic full-fat Milk is perfect. You can also buy Kefir at the Commissary just to see if you like it but their Kefir has extra sugar in it and I am not sure it would be a good starter mix. Best to order the starter kits from Amazon (they will be delivered to a local address) and you should not have any problems. But with both be sure you sanitize your containers with hot boiling water before making either kombucha or kefir. Need to keep stray random non-cultured bacteria out of the mix.
See below for articles on the health benefits of Kombucha and Kefir, articles on how to make it, and where to buy it locally.
As a personal testimony a few years ago, I noticed that I did not have hay fever in the Spring. I used to have to make a trip to the urgent care/ER because I got so inflamed that I could not even open my eyes and I was sneezing so bad. The medicine they gave me worked a bit but I mostly just suffered. Then I started eating kefir for breakfast and drinking Kombucha and my hay fever disappeared.!
TEAZEN is another company that offers kombucha in powder stick form, which you can mix with water or juice. They claim to be the world’s first to introduce this convenient way of consuming kombucha. You can also order their products online from their website3 or find them in some supermarkets and convenience stores.
Homebrewing is an option if you want to make your kombucha at home. You will need a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), tea, sugar, and a glass jar. You can buy a SCOBY online or get one from a friend who already brews kombucha. Some online tutorials and recipes can guide you through the process of making your kombucha.
Make your kefir at home with kefir grains and milk. Kefir grains are a mixture of bacteria and yeast that ferment milk and produce kefir. You can buy kefir grains online or get them from someone who already makes kefir. You will also need a glass jar, a cloth, and a rubber band to cover the jar. Many online guides and videos can show you how to make kefir at home1.
Visiting a kefir cafe where you can enjoy fresh kefir drinks and other products made with kefir, such as smoothies, ice cream, or cheese. Some examples of kefir cafes in Korea are Kefir Lab in Seoul, Kefir House in Busan, and Kefir Story in Daegu.
Ode to Kombucha
kombucha
We have finally mastered the art of brewing home Kombucha and are enjoying a glass of this miracle drink every morning along with our homemade kefir and our power smoothies. If I keep this up, I will live to be a hundred years old. Only 45 more years to go….
Kombucha
Only drink it in the morning
Morning Delight
By the dawning sun
Up at the morning dawn
Can’t wait for my morning cup
Have to have my kombucha
At least once a day.
Ode to Kefir
Kefir
Everyday
Food of the gods
In every way
Radiant health will follow.
THE SIMPLE GUIDE TO KICKASS KOMBUCHA
It’s a big day everyone! The day your intestinal microbiota has been begging you for. The day you say goodbye to expensive store-bought kombucha. The day you become a brewmaster I impart to you the secrets of homemade kombucha!
The goal of this guide is to be your one-stop shop for homemade kombucha brewage, from SCOBY-less to fermented perfection. No hopping around the interwebs. No fuss. No confusion. Because making homemade kombucha is so simple (albeit a bit slow), and I hope after reading this you’ll give it a whirl! Let’s hope right to it.
This post will go into detail about each step in the process of making kombucha. For succinct instructions, scroll to the bottom where a recipe card lays out the basics of making homemade kombucha. The general order of things goes something like this (you can jump around this tutorial by clicking the links below):
Before we start, here are some general notes that are consistent throughout the whole homemade kombucha process.
No metal or plastic containers. Metal can react with the acidic kombucha and hurt your SCOBY, while plastic can house nasty bacteria that you don’t want sneaking in.
Cleaning is key. A recurring theme in kombucha brewing is that EVERYTHING must be CLEAN! We’re creating the perfect environment for good bacterial growth, but if a bad bacteria slip in, it could ruin your batch (and make you pretty sick).
Temperature plays a role. Fermentation goes a bit quicker in warmer temperatures, and a bit slower in colder weather.
No mold zone. If you see any mold growing on your SCOBY or in the tea (which I understand can be difficult to discern from the hideous SCOBY, but will generally be green, white, or black), then toss your whole batch.
Milk kefir is not only easy to make, but it is a delicious, probiotic-rich, versatile beverage your whole family can enjoy. Whether you are just exploring how to make milk kefir at home or have cultured dairy before, this video and instructions are here to help make culturing milk kefir at home easy.
If you have purchased our dehydrated milk kefir grains, please follow the instructions included with your milk kefir grains or watch our how-to video on How to Activate Milk Kefir Grains to get started.
If you wish to use raw milk to make milk kefir, be sure to activate your milk kefir grains using pasteurized milk first. You can then slowly transition them to raw milk.
To get started, first, gather your supplies and choose a variety of milk to use.
Transfer the active kefir grains into up to 4 cups of fresh milk.
Cover with a coffee filter or butter muslin secured by a rubber band or jar ring.
Place in a warm spot, 68°-85°F, to culture.
Culture until milk is slightly thickened and the aroma is pleasant. This generally takes 24 hours but can take less time in warmer temperatures, so keep an eye on your grains.
As your milk kefir grains grow in size, you may choose to remove the kefir grains by hand. Make sure your hands are very clean and well rinsed, but do not use anti-bacterial soap to avoid contaminating the culture.
Use a Plastic Mesh Strainer
Sometimes milk kefir can be a bit thick. If necessary, you can use a silicone spatula or plastic spoon (in a swirling motion) to help work the kefir through the strainer. Stainless steel can be used if necessary; just be sure it’s stainless steel and not a reactive metal.
Pour Kefir into A Shallow Bowl
This will make the grains easier to see. Using a plastic or wooden spoon, scoop the grains out. Once the grains have been removed, pour the finished kefir into a container.
While kefir sometimes turns out to be thin, it is also possible for kefir to over-thicken or turn into curds and whey. If this happens, you may need to strain your kefir grains with extra care. You can find tips in our Straining Over-Thickened Kefir tutorial.
Following the above process, you can make milk kefir at home regularly. If after making milk kefir for a while you decide you don’t need 4 cups every day, it is possible to make smaller batches. Just choose a method in our tutorial How to Slow Down Making Milk Kefir + Make Smaller Batches.
If you ever reach a point where you need to take a break from making milk kefir, there are a few ways you can put your kefir grains on pause. This includes refrigerating them for shorter breaks and drying them for longer breaks.
In either case, your grains must be activated and cultured kefir regularly for 3 to 4 weeks before you attempt either of these resting methods.
I am gluten-free since my wife has celiac disease.
Avoiding Junk Food
I limit my hamburger consumption to no more than once a month.
physical fitness regime
Most days I go for a three to five-mile walk, bike five K on my exercise bike, do three sets of pull-ups/swings, and do yoga and weightlifting. About two hours total per day. While in the park I do some pull-downs, twisting wheels, and cross-training as well.
I may sign up for a gym and join a Pilates or yoga club.
I also do ceregem massage bed, weekly massage therapy, acupuncture, and moxibustion at home.
I keep track of my fitness in my daily journal noting what I did the day before, including what I ate using the following format: (November 2 entry)
Health
Weight: 188
BM:
Symptoms: moderate pain levels
Doctor Visit: scheduled November 7th for follow-up re chronic leg pain
Results: TBC
Follow-Up Due: March 2024
Med News Items:
Diet:
Breakfast: smoothie
Lunch rice, soup, fish Korean side dishes
` Dinner GF Pizza
snacks:
Dessert:
Drinks: Alcohol nó Alcohol Day
blend decaf, kombucha, coffee, fake coffee, fruit juices, etc
Exercise
Actual:
bike seven k
pull up three times consisting of 3 sets of squats, and two sets of swinging.
New strategy
15 three sets of 50 reps per weight
15 minutes of Yoga
5 sets of 50-step reps
5k on the bike
3 miles walk.
Grip periodically 100 reps
Standing desk for two hours
pull up 5.
pull down 200.
wheel 200
Ceregem:
foot massage unit:
neck shoulder massage unit:
Moxibustion
Ceregeem
pulls up.
while walking exercise in the park
twisting 200
cross training
pull-downs
Acupuncture weekly
Massage weekly
Mental Fitness Regime/Alzheimer’s Prevention
I heard a long time ago that playing music, learning languages, and doing mental games like crossword puzzles every day is the best thing you can do to ward off the dreaded Dementia or Alzheimer’s. Since my mother died of Alzheimer’s I am at increased risk. I have been doing all three for almost a year now, playing the piano, studying Korean via Duolingo and watching K Dramas, doing daily writing prompts, writing three to five poems or short stories per day every day, and writing down my dreams and journal entries writing three to four hours every day, and weekly blog postings, instead of crossword puzzles.
Daily Writing in My Journals
I have been writing a daily journal since my 40s. I write down my dreams, my anxieties, my daydreams, and fantasies, and draft poetry and stories first.
then I write my journal including what I did the day before, major news items, things to note, goals for the day, what I ate the day before, and my daily exercise/health statistics.
I save my creative work at least once a week, including putting down my work on my creative writing spreadsheet to keep track of everything. I write anywhere from one to ten pieces every day.
I also keep track of books read, movie/TV shows seen and music played to and listened to.
I am currently reading the classics =Finishing Plato’s The Republic.
Daily Piano Playing
piano
I have been playing the piano almost daily now for a year. Usually between 5 and 6:30 pm. Due to noise restrictions can’t play after 7 p.m. as I live in a high-rise apartment building.
This time around I have started analyzing the music before I play it noting the music areas to pay attention to including key, key changes, registry changes, very high and very low notes which are hard for me to read, and repetition patterns. I found that this simple step has paid off in helping me play a lot better and I feel my skills are returning to where they were when I last played about seven years ago. I am sure I will achieve my lifelong goal of reaching semi-professional level playing within a few years.
I highly recommend this tip, playing each hand separately first when doing complicated counterpoint like in Bach, and listening, when possible, to the music you are going to play on YouTube while reading the score, to anyone returning to playing music.
I recently played my first Mozart Sonata and well I did not do badly. I will return to it next year after finishing other piano books.
Every day I write something following prompts from Pensively 101, Writer’s Cramp, and Fan Story.
here’s what I wrote on November 2, 2023
Journal Entry November 1, 2023
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Time To Go Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis was an old man.
sitting in his lonely room on his bed
up at 0 dark hundred, thinking about his life.
and the end game is coming soon.
There was a knock on the door.
it was the Grim Reaper, saying,
Joe Lewis, come with me,
it is time to go.”
bed in a lonely room
No Forgiveness Express in Eight
Issac was visiting Israel,
Went to a music concert.
There was a fierce fight,
When Hamas terrorists stormed the concert.
Killing his wife in front of him.
He managed to escape, vowing there would.
Be no forgiveness for the monsters,
That had murdered his wife.
Fierce
escape
forgiveness
Animal World
258 words
One day, about five months ago, I received a mysterious package, containing a pair of sunglasses and a cryptic note that read,
“Put these glasses on and see the world as it is. For Mad Men only.”
The incident reminded me of the movie, “They” in which a man puts on mysterious sunglasses that reveal that many people are, in fact, aliens from another planet.
Curious, I put on the glasses and noticed that everybody around me had been transformed into hideous creatures, straight from his worst nightmares. Everyone transformed into aliens, animals, demons, goblins, ghosts, monsters, wraiths, and zombies.
The soldiers at the base APO had become giant rats in uniforms. The local staff had become wild animals.
I turned on the TV and saw all the politicians on TV were now screaming monkeys screeching at each other the former president was an orangutang, the current president was a giant Kamona dragon, and the pundits were all mockingbirds screaming and screeching, mocking the politicians.
The taxi drivers were all wolves. The passengers on the buses and subways were bleating sheep.
His wife was now a tiger, and he looked in the mirror and found that he had been turned into a giant bear. He talked to his best friend during their weekly Zoom session and they were all bears too.
Finally, he had enough. He took the masses off and everybody reverted to their normal shapes and forms. Disgusted he threw the glasses into the trash saying,
“I have had enough of this false reality.”
The Taking of Train 967 bound for the Pentagon
“Listen up. I will only say this once. We have taken control of this train. You will do what we say or we will send you straight to hell. “
That is how I announced the first subway jacking in US history. We high-jacked a subway train in Suburban Virginia bound for the Pentagon on a Monday morning boarding the train at Van Dorn station, by high-jacking the computer control systems that control the movement of the train. The train flew through the stations and we ended it 15 minutes later.
My associates went through the train taking people’s phones, bags, and wallets. We were armed with the latest high-tech weapons and gear we had bought at a gun show where no one questioned us or did a background check as we all looked like ordinary working-class white people.
It went down so quickly but unfortunately, we had to shoot a few people to make sure that everyone knew who was in charge.
I went on the air and addressed the world.
“We are the voices of the forgotten people, the little people, the left behind. We are taking this train in the name of the people. We will take what we need to finance the revolution and then leave you your phones and personal items for you to sort out once we reach the end of the line. Cooperate and you will live, resist, and join your friends in hell. Any questions?’’
It was all over in ten minutes, as we had picked a train near the beginning of its daily run and it was crowded as hell. When we got to the Roslyn station, we threw out smoke bangs flash and disappeared into the crowd.
Then we went to my bar and watched the TV coverage of the hijacking. And sat in the back room and plotted our next target -while we went through the haul – over two million dollars in money, watches, and the like.
And we laughed. It had been so easy to do, that we wondered why no one tried it before.
October 6, 1866, saw the first train robbery in the U.S. when the Reno Gang stole $16,000 … A crime that likely inspired copycat robberies over the next few decades.
For tomorrow, write a story or poem whose setting is on a train during a train robbery. It can be any sort of train (historical, fantasy, supernatural, etc.) And the POV character can be a passenger, a train official, or one of the robbers.
However, to make the assignment useful practice that might push you a little out of your normal comfort zone, the tale must be told in first-person POV (so the POV character/narrator is “I”) and in the present tense.
The Pumpkin’s Evil Plot
A lonely farmer threw together,
His prized pumpkins are on a roadside cart.
The farmer getting ready to sell his award-winning
Giant pumpkins the day before Halloween.
The deranged, insane pumpkins,
Vowing revenge on the human race,
Attacked the hapless lonely farmer,
Yelling “Death to all Humans.”
Thanksgiving Puny Situation Writing com.
Many years ago
I had a traditional Thanksgiving
With friends in Korea
My fellow teacher said
He knew how to cook a turkey
My wife who was in the army
Got the turkey and we invited friends
Turns out he lied, he had no clue
We cooked the bird with the giblets
Inside the stuffing
Took it out and told our Korean guests
That was “American Stamina” food
Turned out and found that the giblets
Were all gone
That was a puny situation
And a memorable Thanksgiving dinner
What kind of pitch shall we make today? Are you having a ball going to bat with your New Year’s writing resolution? Or haven’t you left first base, yet? What’s the score? On to the contest. I’m game if you’re game.
For this contest, you are challenged to write an ABC poem. ABC poetry has five lines and often is used to express feelings. See the announcement for an example. Cash Prize.
MAGA Madness ABC Poem ABC
MAGA Madness
No longer a fringe right-wing group
On the way to take over the land
Politicians cower in fear.
Is Fascism coming to the United States?
this contest you are challenged to write an ABC poem.
Write a one-stanza, five-line poem.
The first letter of each of the first four lines follows the order of the alphabet while the last line can be any letter whatsoever. For example, a poet might choose to use the following letter combination: D-E-F-G-A.
The lines may be of any syllable length. Also, line length may vary from line to line.
The poem may be about any subject or topic.
Rhyming and meter are optional.
BING AI Chat Bot provides some additional background information on the MAGA movement for those of you who don’t follow US politics that closely. The MAGA movement does have parallels in other countries.
Q: can you tell me about the MAGA movement in the U.S.? Where did it come from? what are their goals and what are the links to other right-wing movements both in the U.S. and worldwide?
The movement is characterized by its populist, nationalist, and anti-establishment sentiments, as well as its strong loyalty to Trump and his agenda. Some of the core beliefs of the MAGA movement include:
America is in decline and needs to be restored to its former greatness.
Immigration and globalization are threats to American sovereignty and identity.
The political, media, and cultural elites are corrupt and out of touch with the common people.
Trump is the only leader who can defend and represent the interests of the American people.
The MAGA movement has links to other right-wing movements both in the U.S. and worldwide, such as:
The Tea Party movement emerged in 2009 as a conservative backlash against the Obama administration and its policies.
The alt-right movement, which is a loosely defined group of white nationalists, white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other extremists who promote racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia online and offline.
The QAnon movement is a conspiracy theory that claims that Trump is secretly fighting a cabal of satanic pedophiles who control the world.
The Proud Boys movement is a far-right neo-fascist organization that engages in political violence and street brawls with left-wing activists.
The Patriot Movement is a collection of anti-government militias and paramilitary groups that oppose federal authority and prepare for a civil war.
The Brexit movement, which is a campaign that led to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union in 2016
The Yellow Vest movement is a populist protest movement that started in France in 2018 against rising fuel prices and living costs.
When we moved to Yeongjong island, near the Incheon Airport, we found that we would be deprived of two of our three favorite miracle foods, Kombucha and Kefir. But we were pleasantly surprised to find we could order our third favorite health food item, wheat grass for home delivery. Have not seen it in the stores but have seen it in some smoothie places as well as home delivery. best to mix it in a smoothie. Wheatgrass juice does not taste that great!
Growing Kombucha and Kefir in Korea
Kombucha
Living in Oregon was great. Kombucha is everywhere. Costco carries Kombucha everywhere except in Korea. The best brand we found was Gingerade. But I liked sampling the kombucha everywhere, several bars brew it on-site and you can fill up a growler and take it home.
What is Kombucha, you ask? It is fermented tea, filled with powerful probiotics and it is so good for your health. It does contain 1 percent alcohol so that should not get you into trouble with the new draconian drunk driving laws here in Korea!
Since neither the Commissary nor Costco nor anyone else carried it, or even knew what it was, we decided that we had to brew it ourselves. The starter kit we brought with us had gone bad. So, we bought kombucha from Amazon and used that and the leftover starter kit to get started.
We used green tea as the base. Straight black tea and jasmine tea will work but not Earl Grey due to the bergamot oil in the tea.
We brewed up several gallons of tea, added sugar, the starter kit, and the cans of kombucha. Then we put it in a sprouted warmer kit ordered from Amazon and wrapped another gallon in an electric blanket. You have to keep the kombucha at about 80 degrees F (26.67 Celsius).
Then we waited for six weeks. Finally ready to go today and we bottled it and started our next batch!
Here’s what it looks like with the scuzzy taken out of the kombucha.
kombucha
Kefir
Making Kefir was easy, we’ve been making it for years. We had started kits we bought in Oregon before we left. Just got some organic milk and we were in business. If you have to use Korean milk, make sure it is full-fat milk, 2 percent makes watery kefir. There are recipes for using almond milk, coconut milk, and rice milk but we have not used them because we heard it would be pretty watery. Might want to try Goat milk sometime though. The Commissary’s organic full-fat Milk is perfect. You can also buy Kefir at the Commissary just to see if you like it but their Kefir has extra sugar in it and I am not sure it would be a good starter mix. Best to order the starter kits from Amazon (they will be delivered to a local address) and you should not have any problems. But with both be sure you sanitize your containers with hot boiling water before making either kombucha or kefir. Need to keep stray random non-cultured bacteria out of the mix.
See below for articles on the health benefits of Kombucha and Kefir, articles on how to make it, and where to buy it locally.
As a personal testimony a few years ago, I noticed that I did not have hay fever in the Spring. I used to have to make a trip to the urgent care/ER because I got so inflamed that I could not even open my eyes and I was sneezing so bad. The medicine they gave me worked a bit but I mostly just suffered. Then I started eating kefir for breakfast and drinking Kombucha and my hay fever disappeared.!
TEAZEN is another company that offers kombucha in powder stick form, which you can mix with water or juice. They claim to be the world’s first to introduce this convenient way of consuming kombucha. You can also order their products online from their website3 or find them in some supermarkets and convenience stores.
Homebrewing is an option if you want to make your kombucha at home. You will need a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), tea, sugar, and a glass jar. You can buy a SCOBY online or get one from a friend who already brews kombucha. Some online tutorials and recipes can guide you through the process of making your kombucha.
Make your kefir at home with kefir grains and milk. Kefir grains are a mixture of bacteria and yeast that ferment milk and produce kefir. You can buy kefir grains online or get them from someone who already makes kefir. You will also need a glass jar, a cloth, and a rubber band to cover the jar. Many online guides and videos can show you how to make kefir at home1.
Visiting a kefir cafe where you can enjoy fresh kefir drinks and other products made with kefir, such as smoothies, ice cream, or cheese. Some examples of kefir cafes in Korea are Kefir Lab in Seoul, Kefir House in Busan, and Kefir Story in Daegu.
I hope this helps you find kefir in Korea. Cheers!
Kombucha
Ode to Kombucha
We have finally mastered the art of brewing home Kombucha and are enjoying a glass of this miracle drink every morning along with our homemade kefir and our power smoothies. If I keep this up, I will live to be a hundred years old. Only 45 more years to go….
Ode to Kombucha
Kombucha
Only drink it in the morning
Morning Delight
By the dawning sun
Up at the morning dawn
Can’t wait for my morning cup
Have to have my kombucha
At least once a day.
Ode to Kefir
Kefir
Everyday
Food of the gods
In every way
Radiant health will follow.
THE SIMPLE GUIDE TO KICKASS KOMBUCHA
It’s a big day everyone! The day your intestinal microbiota has been begging you for. The day you say goodbye to expensive store-bought kombucha. The day you become a brewmaster I impart to you the secrets of homemade kombucha!
The goal of this guide is to be your one-stop shop for homemade kombucha brewage, from SCOBY-less to fermented perfection. No hopping around the interwebs. No fuss. No confusion. Because making homemade kombucha is so simple (albeit a bit slow), and I hope after reading this you’ll give it a whirl! Let’s hope right to it.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE KOMBUCHA: OVERVIEW
This post will go into detail about each step in the process of making kombucha. For succinct instructions, scroll to the bottom where a recipe card lays out the basics of making homemade kombucha. The general order of things goes something like this (you can jump around this tutorial by clicking the links below):
Before we start, here are some general notes that are consistent throughout the whole homemade kombucha process.
No metal or plastic containers. Metal can react with the acidic kombucha and hurt your SCOBY, while plastic can house nasty bacteria that you don’t want sneaking in.
Cleaning is key. A recurring theme in kombucha brewing is that EVERYTHING must be CLEAN! We’re creating the perfect environment for good bacterial growth, but if a bad bacteria slip in, it could ruin your batch (and make you pretty sick).
Temperature plays a role. Fermentation goes a bit quicker in warmer temperatures, and a bit slower in colder weather.
No mold zone. If you see any mold growing on your SCOBY or in the tea (which I understand can be difficult to discern from the hideous SCOBY, but will generally be green, white, or black), then toss your whole batch.
Milk kefir is not only easy to make, but it is a delicious, probiotic-rich, versatile beverage your whole family can enjoy. Whether you are just exploring how to make milk kefir at home or have cultured dairy before, this video and instructions are here to help make culturing milk kefir at home easy.
If you have purchased our dehydrated milk kefir grains, please follow the instructions included with your milk kefir grains or watch our how-to video on How to Activate Milk Kefir Grains to get started.
If you wish to use raw milk to make milk kefir, be sure to activate your milk kefir grains using pasteurized milk first. You can then slowly transition them to raw milk.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE MILK KEFIR
To get started, first, gather your supplies and choose a variety of milk to use.
Transfer the active kefir grains into up to 4 cups of fresh milk.
Cover with a coffee filter or butter muslin secured by a rubber band or jar ring.
Place in a warm spot, 68°-85°F, to culture.
Culture until milk is slightly thickened and the aroma is pleasant. This generally takes 24 hours but can take less time in warmer temperatures, so keep an eye on your grains.
As your milk kefir grains grow in size, you may choose to remove the kefir grains by hand. Make sure your hands are very clean and well rinsed, but do not use anti-bacterial soap to avoid contaminating the culture.
Use a Plastic Mesh Strainer
Sometimes milk kefir can be a bit thick. If necessary, you can use a silicone spatula or plastic spoon (in a swirling motion) to help work the kefir through the strainer. Stainless steel can be used if necessary; just be sure it’s stainless steel and not a reactive metal.
Pour Kefir into A Shallow Bowl
This will make the grains easier to see. Using a plastic or wooden spoon, scoop the grains out. Once the grains have been removed, pour the finished kefir into a container.
OVER-THICKENED KEFIR
While kefir sometimes turns out to be thin, it is also possible for kefir to over-thicken or turn into curds and whey. If this happens, you may need to strain your kefir grains with extra care. You can find tips in our Straining Over-Thickened Kefir tutorial.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Following the above process, you can make milk kefir at home regularly. If after making milk kefir for a while you decide you don’t need 4 cups every day, it is possible to make smaller batches. Just choose a method in our tutorial How to Slow Down Making Milk Kefir + Make Smaller Batches.
Resting Your Milk Kefir Grains
If you ever reach a point where you need to take a break from making milk kefir, there are a few ways you can put your kefir grains on pause. This includes refrigerating them for shorter breaks and drying them for longer breaks.
In either case, your grains must be activated and cultured kefir regularly for 3 to 4 weeks before you attempt either of these resting methods.
I also avoid Carbs at night, and I am gluten-free since my wife has celiac disease. and I limit my hamburger consumption to no more than once a month.
physical fitness regime
most days I go for a three to five-mile walk, bike five K on my exercise bike, do three sets of pull-ups/swings, and do yoga and weightlifting. About two hours total per day. While in the park I do some pull-downs, twisting wheels, and cross-training as well.
I may sign up for a gym and join a Pilates or yoga club.
I also do ceregem massage bed, weekly massage therapy, acupuncture, and moxibustion at home.
I keep track of my fitness in my daily journal noting what I did the day before, including what I ate using the following format: (November 2 entry)
Health
Weight: 188
BM:
Symptoms: moderate pain levels
Doctor Visit: scheduled November 7th for follow-up re chronic leg pain
Results: TBC
Follow-Up Due: March 2024
Med News Items:
Diet:
Breakfast: smoothie
Lunch rice, soup, fish Korean side dishes
` Dinner GF Pizza
snacks:
Dessert:
Drinks: Alcohol nó Alcohol Day
blend decaf, kombucha, coffee, fake coffee, fruit juices, etc
Exercise
Actual:
bike seven k
pull up three times consisting of 3 sets of squats, and two sets of swinging.
New strategy
15 three sets of 50 reps per weight
15 minutes of Yoga
5 sets of 50-step reps
5k on the bike
3 miles walk.
Grip periodically 100 reps
Standing desk for two hours
pull up 5.
pull down 200.
wheel 200
Ceregem:
foot massage unit:
neck shoulder massage unit:
Moxibustion
Ceregeem pulls up.
while walking exercise in the park
twisting 200
cross training
pull-downs
Acupuncture weekly
Massage weekly
Ceregem treatment
I first bought a cergem acupressure massage bed in 1996 and use it almost every day. the bed uses infrared heat and jade technology to provide acupressure therapy as the jade crystals move up and down your spine providing long-lasting pain relief leading to deeper sleep. I usually use it while reading before going to bed.
from Bing AI review
Ceregem massage bed is a therapeutic bed that uses a combination of massage, heat, and acupressure to provide relaxation and relief from pain. The bed is designed to provide a full-body massage that targets pressure points and helps to improve blood circulation. Here are some of the benefits of using a Ceregem massage bed:
Relaxation: The massage bed provides a relaxing experience that can help to reduce stress and anxiety.
Pain relief: The bed’s massage and heat functions can help to relieve pain and soreness in the muscles and joints.
Improved circulation: The massage bed’s acupressure function can help to improve blood circulation, which can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Better sleep: The bed’s massage function can help to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality.
Detoxification: The bed’s heat function can help to promote sweating, which can help to eliminate toxins from the body.
Please note that while the Ceregem massage bed has many potential benefits, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using it, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions.
Moxibustion Treatment
I have been moxibution treatment for about a year now. we have a home kit which we do in conjunction with using the ceregem massage therapy bed. About two to three treatments per week are ideal. We also occasionally go to a clinic for treatment.
Moxibustion involves burning wormwood and applying it to your skin. It is an ancient Chinese-Korean medical treatment. for more info read the following from the Bing AI chat on moxibution.
Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that involves burning dried mugwort on or near the skin’s surface to stimulate acupuncture points. It is believed to have several health benefits, including:
Pain relief: Moxibustion can help to relieve pain and soreness in the muscles and joints.
Improved digestion: Moxibustion can help to improve digestion and alleviate digestive issues such as constipation and diarrhea.
Reduced inflammation: Moxibustion can help to reduce inflammation in the body, which can help to alleviate symptoms of conditions such as arthritis and asthma.
Improved blood circulation: Moxibustion can help to improve blood circulation, which can help to promote healing and reduce inflammation.
Stress relief: Moxibustion can help to promote relaxation and reduce stress and anxiety.
Please note that while moxibustion has many potential benefits, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before using it, Korean Charcoal Saunasespecially if you have any underlying medical conditions.
Korean Charcoal Saunas
charcoal sauna
;
I have been going to traditional Korean saunas for years. About two years ago I discovered Korean Charcoal saunas which feature charcoal sauna fires that are very hot and have a lot of health benefits. for more information see the following:
I heard a long time ago that playing music, learning languages, and doing mental games like crossword puzzles every day is the best thing you can do to ward off the dreaded Dementia or Alzheimer’s. Since my mother died of Alzheimer’s I am at increased risk. I have been doing all three for almost a year now, playing the piano, studying Korean via Duolingo and watching K Dramas, doing daily writing prompts, writing three to five poems or short stories per day every day, and writing down my dreams and journal entries writing three to four hours every day, and weekly blog postings, instead of crossword puzzles.
daily writing in my journals
I have been writing a daily journal since my 40s. I write down my dreams, my anxieties, my daydreams, and fantasies, and draft poetry and stories first.
then I write my journal including what I did the day before, major news items, things to note, goals for the day, what I ate the day before, and my daily exercise/health statistics.
I save my creative work at least once a week, including putting down my work on my creative writing spreadsheet to keep track of everything. I write anywhere from one to ten pieces every day.
I also keep track of books read, movie/TV shows seen and music played to and listened to.
I am currently reading the classics =Finishing Plato’s The Republic.
daily piano playing
I have been playing the piano almost daily now for a year. Usually between 5 and 6:30 pm. Due to noise restrictions can’t play after 7 p.m. as I live in a high-rise apartment building.
This time around I have started analyzing the music before I play it noting the music areas to pay attention to including key, key changes, registry changes, very high and very low notes which are hard for me to read, and repetition patterns. I found that this simple step has paid off in helping me play a lot better and I feel my skills are returning to where they were when I last played about seven years ago. I am sure I will achieve my lifelong goal of reaching semi-professional level playing within a few years.
I highly recommend this tip, playing each hand separately first when doing complicated counterpoint like in Bach, and listening, when possible, to the music you are going to play on YouTube while reading the score, to anyone returning to playing music.
I recently played my first Mozart Sonata and well I did not do badly. I will return to it next year after finishing other piano books.
One day, about five months ago, I received a mysterious package, containing a pair of sunglasses and a cryptic note that read,
“Put these glasses on and see the world as it is. For Mad Men only.”
The incident reminded me of the movie, “They” in which a man puts on mysterious sunglasses that reveal that many people are, in fact, aliens from another planet.
Curious, I put on the glasses and noticed that everybody around me had been transformed into hideous creatures, straight from his worst nightmares. Everyone transformed into aliens, animals, demons, goblins, ghosts, monsters, wraiths, and zombies.
The soldiers at the base APO had become giant rats in uniforms. The local staff had become wild animals.
I turned on the TV and saw all the politicians on TV were now screaming monkeys screeching at each other the former president was an orangutang, the current president was a giant Kamona dragon, and the pundits were all mockingbirds screaming and screeching, mocking the politicians.
The taxi drivers were all wolves. The passengers on the buses and subways were bleating sheep.
His wife was now a tiger, and he looked in the mirror and found that he had been turned into a giant bear. He talked to his best friend during their weekly Zoom session and they were all bears too.
Finally, he had enough. He took the masses off and everybody reverted to their normal shapes and forms. Disgusted he threw the glasses into the trash saying,
“I have had enough of this false reality.”
NEW PROMPT:Write a story or poem in which your current world becomes an animal analogy.
Think Animal Farm but to the scale of events in your personal life. Who would you turn into pigs? Who would become cows? What about the chickens? Maybe an ostrich or two?
NEW Prompt DUE in 16 hours 33 minutes
(11:59 am on Thursday, November 2)
The Taking of Train 967 bound for the Pentagon. terrorism
The Taking of Train 967 Bound for the Pentagon Writer’s Cramp
The Taking of Train 967 bound for the Pentagon Writing com
“Listen up. I will only say this once. We have taken control of this train. You will do what we say or we will send you straight to hell. “
That is how I announced the first subway jacking in US history. We high-jacked a subway train in Suburban Virginia bound for the Pentagon on a Monday morning boarding the train at Van Dorn station, by high-jacking the computer control systems that control the movement of the train. The train flew through the stations and we ended it 15 minutes later.
My associates went through the train taking people’s phones, bags, and wallets. We were armed with the latest high-tech weapons and gear we had bought at a gun show where no one questioned us or did a background check as we all looked like ordinary working-class white people.
It went down so quickly but unfortunately, we had to shoot a few people to make sure that everyone knew who was in charge.
I went on the air and addressed the world.
“We are the voices of the forgotten people, the little people, the left behind. We are taking this train in the name of the people. We will take what we need to finance the revolution and then leave you your phones and personal items for you to sort out once we reach the end of the line. Cooperate and you will live, resist, and join your friends in hell. Any questions?’’
It was all over in ten minutes, as we had picked a train near the beginning of its daily run and it was crowded as hell. When we got to the Roslyn station, we threw out smoke bangs flash and disappeared into the crowd.
Then we went to my bar and watched the TV coverage of the hijacking. And sat in the back room and plotted our next target -while we went through the haul – over two million dollars in money, watches, and the like.
And we laughed. It had been so easy to do, that we wondered why no one tried it before.
October 6, 1866, saw the first train robbery in the U.S. when the Reno Gang stole $16,000 … A crime that likely inspired copycat robberies over the next few decades.
For tomorrow, write a story or poem whose setting is on a train during a train robbery. It can be any sort of train (historical, fantasy, supernatural, etc.) And the POV character can be a passenger, a train official, or one of the robbers.
However, to make the assignment useful practice that might push you a little out of your normal comfort zone, the tale must be told in first-person POV (so the POV character/narrator is “I”) and in the present tense.
Weekly challenge
The Pumpkin’s Evil Plot
A lonely farmer threw together,
His prized pumpkins are on a roadside cart.
The farmer getting ready to sell his award-winning
Giant pumpkins the day before Halloween.
The deranged, insane pumpkins,
Vowing revenge on the human race,
Attacked the hapless lonely farmer,
Yelling “Death to all Humans.”
Weekly Challenge
The prompt word for the week is:
PUMPKIN
Your poem…
must include the prompt word, pumpkin
must be at least 12 lines long
does not have to be about Halloween, in case you were wondering.
other writing com
Three Thanksgiving Poems
Thanksgiving Puny Situation Writing com.
Many years ago
I had a traditional Thanksgiving
With friends in Korea
My fellow teacher said
He knew how to cook a turkey
My wife who was in the army
Got the turkey and we invited friends
Turns out he lied, he had no clue
We cooked the bird with the giblets
Inside the stuffing
Took it out and told our Korean guests
That was “American Stamina” food
Turned out and found that the giblets
Were all gone
That was a puny situation
And a memorable Thanksgiving dinner
What kind of pitch shall we make today? Are you having a ball going to bat with your New Year’s writing resolution? Or haven’t you left first base, yet? What’s the score? On to the contest. I’m game if you’re game.
For this contest, you are challenged to write an ABC poem. ABC poetry has five lines and often is used to express feelings. See the announcement for an example. Cash Prize.
MAGA Madness ABC Poem ABC
MAGA Madness
No longer a fringe right-wing group
On the way to take over the land
Politicians cower in fear.
Is Fascism coming to the United States?
this contest you are challenged to write an ABC poem.
Write a one-stanza, five-line poem.
The first letter of each of the first four lines follows the order of the alphabet while the last line can be any letter whatsoever. For example, a poet might choose to use the following letter combination: D-E-F-G-A.
The lines may be of any syllable length. Also, line length may vary from line to line.
The poem may be about any subject or topic.
Rhyming and meter are optional.
BING AI Chat Bot provides some additional background information on the MAGA movement for those of you who don’t follow US politics that closely. The MAGA movement does have parallels in other countries.
Q: can you tell me about the MAGA movement in the U.S.? Where did it come from? what are their goals and what are the links to other right-wing movements both in the U.S. and worldwide?
The movement is characterized by its populist, nationalist, and anti-establishment sentiments, as well as its strong loyalty to Trump and his agenda. Some of the core beliefs of the MAGA movement include:
America is in decline and needs to be restored to its former greatness.
Immigration and globalization are threats to American sovereignty and identity.
The political, media, and cultural elites are corrupt and out of touch with the common people.
Trump is the only leader who can defend and represent the interests of the American people.
The MAGA movement has links to other right-wing movements both in the U.S. and worldwide, such as:
The Tea Party movement emerged in 2009 as a conservative backlash against the Obama administration and its policies.
The alt-right movement, which is a loosely defined group of white nationalists, white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other extremists who promote racism, antisemitism, and xenophobia online and offline.
The QAnon movement is a conspiracy theory that claims that Trump is secretly fighting a cabal of satanic pedophiles who control the world.
The Proud Boys movement is a far-right neo-fascist organization that engages in political violence and street brawls with left-wing activists.
The Patriot Movement is a collection of anti-government militias and paramilitary groups that oppose federal authority and prepare for a civil war.
The Brexit movement, which is a campaign that led to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union in 2016
The Yellow Vest movement is a populist protest movement that started in France in 2018 against rising fuel prices and living costs.
In 1996, I went jogging and fell down a ledge in the dark and broke my heel. I ended up in the hospital undergoing 14 operations due to a mutant multiple drug resistant staph infection. Almost had to my life amputated, and almost lost my life. Ever since the operations, I have had low-level chronic pain, which can be overwhelming. I also have arthritis pain, and suffer from insomnia, and migraines.
When I came to Oregon, I tried CBD oil and have been putting in my coffee for the last six weeks and the results are in.
My chronic pain due to fibromyalgia and arthritis pain has been reduced by 70 percent! I wake up almost pain free, the first time in almost 25 years since my great accident and 14 operations. See cheating death above for details.
It is great. It is legal in most states. A bit expensive but worth it. When I return to Korea, I will try to get a prescription as it is legal now with a prescription, marine remains illegal.
CBD may provide benefits for those with neurological disorders. A 2022 study suggests that nabiximols (Sativex) spray containing both CBD and THC may help re…
Research from 2017 indicated that CBD oil helped reduce seizure activity in children with Dravet syndrome, but it also caused some adverse reactions. See more
CBD oil has shown promise as a treatment for some mental health disorders leading many people who live with these conditions to become interested in this natura… See more
The other day I returned to Bend, Oregon. I last visited there in 2019 and enjoyed both visits. Growing up in Berkeley, I spent my summer with my family in Yakima staying at the family’s cabin in the national forest near Mt. Ranier. My father was a college professor and had July and August off, so we went to the cabin during the summers. We frequently drove through Bend as it was on the route from Yakima to the Bay Area. We usually stayed in Medford or Weed, but sometimes we stopped in Bend or the small town of Chemult.
Bend in those days was a backwater little town, a little bigger than the town of CHemul or Klamath Falls. It was a boring agricultural town.
Over the years it has become a trendy, hip town filled with the best beer in the country, great wine as well, and decent food as it is a foodie’s delight. Bend is a hip town about an hour southeast of Portland on the edge of the Oregon high mountain desert, it is the mecca of artisanal spirits, beer, and Kombucha. There is a good museum called the Oregon High Desert Museum which is worth a visit. There is also an Oregon Cascade scenic bypass, a 66-mile drive through the Cascades that I am looking forward to driving on my next trip
The city is the second fastest-growing city in Oregon if not the country. It is increasingly diverse, no longer a backwater. There is a new State college there as well. Mostly tourism based now, but there are some hi-tech companies set up there.
The city is lined with beautiful parks along the Deschutes River which runs through the city. The city is the second most fit city in the country and we saw lots of people, walking, biking, boating, or hitting the gym.
We walked about Drake Park and Juniper Park before trying the beer at Bend Brewing Company downtown. We drove around town after touring downtown and having some great Gelato. We stopped off at the last Blockbuster left in the country, stopped off at Humms’s Kombucha, and then had a beer sampler at Long Barrel Beer one of the bigger brew pubs in town.
We drove by several of the many parks in Bend, stopping off at Jupiter Park and Drake’s park. the city is building a long trail along the Deschutes River which flows through town.
bend park
last Blockbuster
The last blockbuster video store in the world is located in Bend, Oregon. Blockbusters used to be everywhere. Then they weren’t with the advent of Netflix and streaming services. But, somehow they manage to thrive in trendy little Bend Oregon. Seeing a blockbuster brought back memories. We used to go every Friday night to get movies for the weekend picking three to five to watch every weekend.
Conveniently located downtown along the mirror pound park near Drakes Park. It has lots of places to sit outside and enjoy the weather. The beer is great.
Welcome to Bend Brewing Co. We were established in 1995, and are the second oldest brew pub in Bend, Oregon. We have a rich history of award winning craft beer brewed at our
humm original. We didn’t invent kombucha, we perfected it. We’ve always had one primary goal: to make people feel good. And as more and more people are drinking kombucha …
We stopped by their tasting room and tried a number of samples. we drove by the factory as well.
my Brother-in-law and his wife have a Kombucha business in Korea. So they were quite interested in seeing how it is made.
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. It is the principal city of the Bend Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon’s largest city, with a population of 99,178 at the time of the 2020 U.S. Census, up from 76,693 at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, and 52,029 at the … See more
On the way to Bend, we stopped off at the High Desert Museum which is worth a visit. The highlights of the museum are the outdoor walks that go through the high desert forest with a great otter exhibit and a bird of prey exhibit with eagles, and other birds of prey. There are lots of chipmunks running around as well. The otters were very cute as otters tend to be.
The museum had a decent Native American exhibit as well as an outdoor recreation of a settler’s camp circa 1890 or so.
The High Desert Museum is located near Bend, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1982, it brings regional wildlife, culture, art, and natural resources together to promote an understanding of the natural and cultural heritage of North America’s high desert country. The museum uses indoor and outdoor exhibits, wildlife in natural-like habitats, and living history demonstrations to help people discover and appreciate the high desert environment. The museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Facilities :
The High Desert Museum sits on 135 acres (0.55 km square) of pine-covered forest land in Central Oregon. South of Bend on U.S. Route 97, the museum includes various indoor and outdoor exhibits, a library, a desertarium, and a cafe. Portland’s GHA Architects designed the original museum building. That structure contains walls built from volcanic rocks and slate flooring. The outdoor exhibits and various buildings are connected by a half-mile-long paved path.
Collections :
The museum has more than 18,500 artifacts in its collections. Artwork includes works from Edward Curtis, Edward Borein, Charles Marion Russell, Philip Hyde (photographer), and Alfred Jacob Miller among others. Historical artifacts include those of Native American origin and post-Euro-American settlement of the region. Many of the Native American items are from the Doris Swayze Bounds Collection of American Indian Art and Artifacts, and the Doris Bounds Swayze collection.
This unique museum reveals the West’s High Desert region through artful exhibits, alluring animals, engaging programs and meaningful history. Whether you’re a local or planning to visit Bend, Oregon, discover why …
Chemult
One of the towns we drove through is the town of Celmult, Oregon. It is a town now, I recalled it being bigger when we drove through back in the 70s. We often spend the night there. It is the snowiest town in Oregon if not in the United States. Now there is not much there.
The locale was originally established in 1924 as a station on the Southern Pacific Cascade Line named “Knott” during construction.[4] The station’s name was changed to Chemult when the line opened in 1926 and a post office was established the same year.[4] The name Chemult comes from a Klamath chief who was one of the 26 who signed the Klamath Lake Treaty of October 14, 1864.[4][5]
The area around Chemult is commonly used for hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, dog sled racing, fishing, and hunting. Chemult also offers the annual Sled Dog Races where mushers come to race their sled dogs and compete for cash prizes.
Chemult is Trump country as many smaller towns in Oregon are. Oregon is a blue state with much of the population in the Portland -Eugune corridor. Central Oregon, (with the exception of Bend) eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon (with the exception of Ashland) are ruby red, politically speaking. But in general, people in Oregon are not as partisan as people in many other states tend to be. They are a pretty tolerant and friendly lot.
Rogue Gorge and Natural Bridge
(from internet article)
On the way to Bend we stopped off at the Rogue River gorge = a long waterfall near Crater Lake that is worth a visit, the other day we visited the natural bridge nearby which is also spectacular.
Nature’s own magic act
Everyone loves a good magic trick, and nature seems to have figured out a way to create one- without the smoke and mirrors. Natural Bridge, a point along the upper reaches of the Rogue River, is where the magic happens. At this point, the Rogue River disappears underground into a 250-foot lava tube, with a small amount of water escaping from the tube, forming a pool under the bridge. All the water, slowly but surely, reappears at the surface further down the river.
There are many ways to hike this stretch of the Rogue River. Natural Bridge itself can be reached via the Upper Rogue River trail. The easy hiking 2.4-mile loop option includes views of Natural Bridge and is accessible for all ages. For this route, start at the Natural Bridge viewing area. Stay on the near side of the river and start hiking upstream. Hike upstream until you reach Woodruff Bridge. Cross the bridge here and head downstream back to another foot bridge right near your starting point. The loop can be done in either direction with no substantial advantages either way. The trail itself has amazing river views, views of Natural Bridge, and ancient old-growth forests.
There are different campsites in the area, all of which have easy access to Natural Bridge, and the many surrounding recreation areas. This area is 10-15 minutes away from Crater Lake National Park and is a great place to stay to enjoy the park. Longer hiking options continue upstream to the Rogue Gorge along the river. You can also do a very short hike to the Rogue Gorge viewpoint just off the highway, this option is more of a leg stretch than a “hike” but has amazing views of the gushing river. More details and directions on different hiking routes here.
While this natural wonder is as impressive as the lush forests around it, it is not protected. If you want to help protect one of nature’s own magic acts, be sure to sign the petition and support the Crater Lake Wilderness region for generations to come.
April 16—Apologies for something
April 17—Incorporate wine or spirits somehow…
April 18—Incorporate a ghost or spirits somehow…
April 18 – Ghosts in Vietnam Writing com
April 19—A fragrance
April 20—A fabric…or sewing, knitting, fiber arts…
April 16—Apologies for something
I will never back d
I will never apologize
For daring to fall in love
With you
Ever since I met you
I have been enslaved
To your love
And for that,
I will never
Ever
Apologize
Enjoying red wine at Sunset
wine
At the end of the day
I pour a glass of red wine
Just enjoying the moment
With the love of my life
As the sun sets over the West sea
The Wayra appears to be the South American version of the Haiku with five unrhymed lines, containing 5, 7, 7, 6, and 8 syllables, respectively, as described and demonstrated in the following links:
The Wayra (Quechua – wind ) is a popular verse form of Peru and Bolivia. It appears it originated in an indigenous Quechua language but has found its way into Spanish literature. It is a short syllabic verse form found at Vole Central and some other sites around the internet.
The elements of the Wayra are:
a pentastich, a poem in 5 lines.
syllabic, 5-7-7-6-8
unrhymed.
No Surrender by Judi Van Gorder
The dark dugout cuts
through still waters of the dense
Everglades. Undefeated
the sovereign Seminole
survive. Warriors in the wind.
Note: The Seminole Indians of Florida are the only indigenous tribe within the borders of the US to never surrender to the US army. The indigenous Seminole word for wind is also warm.
The hot oil sizzles
veggies hurled against their will
spluttering in peeved protest
they hold on to crisp snap
teeth bite into the crunchiness
2. Shadows
Shadows dimmed by grunge
slink past mental palisade
tiptoeing without scruples
through customary cracks
ensnared by cobwebs in my chest
Written for diverse.
April 18—Incorporate a ghost or
spirits somehow…
Ghosts in Vietnam
Back in 1994,
I first visited Vietnam
I came back in 2019
prior to the COVID lockdowns.
I was a few years too young
To have gone to Vietnam
During the war.
But having gr up
In Berkeley, I knew a lot
About the war.
When I came back in 2019
We stayed near the Pham Ngu Lao
Backpackers district,
filled with foreigners.
Many of them were elderly men
Returning to Vietnam.
Revisiting the country
Where they had fought
The war was so long ago.
I could not shake the feeling
there were ghosts of the dead
Still roaming around the country.
We went on a tour of the Chu Chi tunnels
The Viet Kong
used throughout the war.
The US-led coalition was never able
To completely shut d the tunnels
Or even locate many of them.
The tunnels have been restored
Part of the war tourism industry
That has emerged in Vietnam
Vietnam is both proud that
they defeated the US
But has also become friendly
I and my wife entered the tunnel
I had to crawl through the tunnels
And began to panic
Imagining that the tunnels
Were filled with the enemy
That was ready to kill me
I saw the ghosts
of both the Viet Kong
And the hapless US
soldiers fighting them
I felt that I had
gone back in time
Was there
I got out
fleeing the ghosts
Who was laughing at me.
When I got back
While having dinner
In the backpacker’s district
I look up and saw
An old American
dressed in full battle gear
Having a beer
across the street
I went back to my dinner
Looked up
a few minutes later
The man was gone
And I felt I had seen
Yet another ghost
In Vietnam.
April 19—A fragrance
Korean Food
The Fragrance of Korean K Food
I love Korean food
K food
I love the taste
I love the fragrance
I love the smells
I love the texture
I love the feel
I love how it looks
Fell in love with it
And all things Korean
Back in 1979
When I first went there
In the U.S. Peace Corps
Korean food is somewhat like
Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai
With some American influences as well
But it is all done in a unique Korean style
Everything is cooked with special spices
A mixture of chili paste, garlic, fish sauce,
Onions, scallions, soy sauce,
salt, Tofu, Panjang sauce, and soju (liquor).
Often cooked with beef, chicken, clams, eggs, fish,
kimchi, intestines meat, mushrooms, mussels,
oysters and/or pork,
Every meal consists of rice, kimchi
(pickled vegetables usually cabbage)
The main entry is either beef, chicken, fish, or pork,
Rice
And multiple vegetable side dishes
Including western style salad
The entire meal
a feast for the eyes
Nose and mouth
With a delicious unique
aroma, fragrance,
Taste and texture
Uniquely Korean.
All washed d
with Korean beer, liquor (soju) or
or rice wine or Western wine
my favorites include
Bulgogi chongsik (with all the side dishes) 불고기 총식
Kalbi chongsik (with all the side dishes) 칼비 총식
Calamari 오징어
Fried Chicken 닭 튀김
Chuncheon Chicken ribs 춘천 닭갈비
Dumplings 만두
Fried rice 볶음밥
High-rice카레라이스
Korean curry rice 카레라이스
Kimpop rice wrapped in seaweed 김팝
Korean soups 한국 수프
My favorite army stew 군대 스튜
Kalbitang (Beef rib soup) 칼비탕
Beef Turnip soup 쇠고기 순무 스프
Ginseng Chicken soup 인삼 치킨 수프
Kimchi stew 김치찌개
Tanjung stew 짱짱찌개
Bibimbap Mixed vegetables and rice with an egg on top비빔밥
Kalkooksu noodles 칼국수
Ramyeon 라면
Mushroom stew 버섯 스튜
Soondaeboo tofu stew 순대부두부찌개
Sashimi 생선회
Sushi 돈까스
Fried mackerel 고등어 튀김
Octopus 낫지
Omrice korean omelet 오므라이스
Porridge 문어
Shrimp 새우
The Fabric of My Life Life
The Fabric of My Life April 2023 Poems
The fabric of My Life Dew Drop In
The fabric of My Life Writing com
April 20—A fabric…or sewing, knitting, fiber arts…
I often thought
That it would
be difficult
to fully express
the fabric that
is my life
so many diverse strands
to weave
to tell my story
In early November, my wife and I went to Daegu to check out a Moxibustion center. The owner had invented a moxibustion clay pot system suitable for home use. It is odorless and smokeless Up to now, to do moxibustion, you have to go to an authorized center (and some of them are unauthorized, there are a lot of fly-by-night providers in the whole alternative medicine space in Korea and the states. The adage, “ Caveat Emptor Buyer Beware” applies here in spades.
His system is designed to be used at home. It is smokeless and odorless. Burning moxibustion smells like marijuana to me. They recommend a 100-day regime, followed by a weekly maintenance regime.
We are at the end of the first three weeks and will try to finish the course. I usually do it in the early evening and watch NetFlix, and read or check my emails while doing it. It takes 90 minutes. She does it later about 11 pm as she is a night owl.
We do it while using our ceregem massage bed. I have provided information on that below as well. The ceregem beds are available in the U.S., and moxibustion in acupuncture clinics as they often do both treatments at the same time.
I also provided some updated info on charcoal saunas which are also a great health treatment. We plan to go next week if not sooner.
The results are in
· I have lost seven pounds, and most importantly, almost got rid of my spare tire around my belly.
· I finally can sleep throughout the night. I still have vivid dreams, but not as much. I no longer have bouts with insomnia at 0 dark hundred (4 a.m. in nonmilitary/Intel speak).
the results are in
· I no longer have to go every couple of hours.
· I have a lot more energy
· I feel mentally sharper
· My fibro flare-ups are less
· My arthritic pain is less
· My migraines are fewer down to once a month as opposed to every other week and last one day as opposed to three days.
· I am less hungry and can last longer between meals.
My wife reports similar results.
We plan on finishing the first 100-day regime and then doing the maintenance program. We are also going to Ganghwa island soon to source locally, mug wort as that is both the mug wort and ginseng capital of Korea producing 2/3 of both products.
The product is available for sale in Korea and they ship it throughout the country, but to experience it you have to go to their clinic in Daegu. If anyone is interested in getting more info let me know by email at jakecaller@gmail.com and I will forward you the information. And if anyone wants to comment on this blog piece, please do so at the same email and I will assume that you have no problem with me posting it, if you do, please let me know if you do not want me to post it, the default will be to post the comment.
Our friend was able to bring it through customs with no problems. I thought that the drug-sniffing dogs would flag it as marijuana, but apparently, dogs can tell that this is not marijuana. The pot is small, so taking it back should not be difficult either.
Original Posting
One of the joys of living in Korea is the widespread availability of oriental medicine {한의학}– acupuncture, acupressure, herbal treatments, and moxibustion, ( 灸 뜸) and traditional Korean saunas including the famous charcoal saunas. The sauna business was badly hit by the COVID shutdowns, but they have survived, and many have re-opened. I went to a charcoal sauna the other day, for the first time in over a year.
Oriental medicine treats the entire person, not just symptoms like Western medicine. If you have arthritis as I have in more than one place you will have to see multiple doctors for treatment – a foot doctor, a knee doctor, and a neck doctor, and none of the doctors will coordinate with the other doctors to make sure that the treatment is effective and efficient. And of course, multiple bills to multiple clinics, as well as having to obtain insurance permission for treatment. No wonder so many people are looking for alternatives. And the western medical establishment is constantly attacking alternative medicine as unfounded, dangerous, and unscientific. None of which is true, as oriental medicine dates back thousands of years, and in a word, works wonders. I am a big fan.
I have tried acupuncture, acupressure, and charcoal saunas over the years, even from US military doctors! It seems to work for me. I found it helps with my fibromyalgia and arthritis, and I like that it works for the entire body.
Moxibustion involves burning herbal medicine on top of the body – the medicine gets absorbed into your bloodstream and restores your Chi – your energy levels and gets rid of inflammation among other things. They use a mixture of herbs, mostly mugwort, 쑥 Mugwort is also sold as tea but is pretty bitter. the smell of burning mugwort is similar to marijuana. When I first smelled it, I thought someone was smoking a joint!
Lately, I tried Moxibustion treatment for my lingering arthritis, and fibromyalgia and finally lose my belly fat! The doctor assured me that it would work for all of these problems. I started a twice-week regime for the next two months, then once a monthly maintenance routine. They will also do acupuncture. The cost is 40 dollars per treatment, well within my insurance limits of 75 dollars for 50 sessions a year.
Moxibustion Treatment Korea
One of the joys of living in Korea is the widespread availability of oriental medicine {한의학}– acupuncture, acupressure, herbal treatments, and moxibustion, ( 灸 뜸) and traditional Korean saunas including the famous charcoal saunas. The sauna business was badly hit by the COVID shutdowns, but they have survived, and many have re-opened. I went to a charcoal sauna the other day, for the first time in over a year.
Oriental medicine treats the entire person, not just symptoms like Western medicine. If you have arthritis as I have in more than one place you will have to see multiple doctors for treatment – a foot doctor, a knee doctor, and a neck doctor, and none of the doctors will coordinate with the other doctors to make sure that the treatment is effective and efficient. And of course, multiple bills to multiple clinics, as well as having to obtain insurance permission for treatment.
No wonder so many people are looking for alternatives. And the western medical establishment is constantly attacking alternative medicine as unfounded, dangerous, and unscientific.
None of which is true, as oriental medicine dates back thousands of years, and in a word, works wonders. I am a big fan.
I have tried acupuncture, acupressure, and charcoal saunas over the years, even from US military doctors! It seems to work for me. I found it helps with my fibromyalgia and arthritis, and I like that it works for the entire body.
Moxibustion involves burning herbal medicine on top of the body – the medicine gets absorbed into your bloodstream and restores your Chi – your energy levels and gets rid of inflammation among other things. They use a mixture of herbs, mostly mug wort, 쑥 Mug wort is also sold as tea but is pretty bitter. the smell of burning mug wort is similar to marijuana. When I first smelled it, I thought someone was smoking a joint!
Lately, I tried Moxibustion treatment for my lingering arthritis, and fibromyalgia and finally lose my belly fat! The doctor assured me that it would work for all of these problems. I started a twice-week regime for the next two months, then once a monthly maintenance routine. They will also do acupuncture. The cost is 40 dollars per treatment, well within my insurance limits of 75 dollars for 50 sessions a year.
Moxibustion: Definition, Technique, Benefits, and Risk Factors – WebMD
Moxibustion is a form of therapy that entails the burning of mug wort leaves. This is a small, spongy herb that is believed to enhance healing with acupuncture. As such, the leaves are burnt close …
Moxibustion (Chinese: 灸; pinyin: jiǔ) is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that consists of burning dried mug wort at particular points on the body. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, (India, sic) Vietnam, and Mongolia. Suppliers usually age the mug wort and grind it up to a fluff; practitioners burn the fluff or process it further into a cigar … https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu › explore-healing-practices › moxibustion
Moxibustion | Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing
Moxibustion is used for Pain due to injury or arthritis, especially in “cold” patterns where the pain naturally feels better with the application of heat. Digestive problems and irregular elimination. Gynecological and obstetrical conditions, including breech presentation in late-term pregnancy. Protection against cold and
Ceregem
What is Ceragem therapy?
Ceragem is a treatment method that combines infrared heat and massage techniques during the treatment of various conditions. The Ceragem automatic thermal massage bed scans your spine’s length to help a chiropractor conduct customized massage therapy.
Note: it uses jade crystals that are heated and move up and down your back pausing at acupressure points. It works. We have been using it for years and it helps reduces my fibromyalgia and arthritis pain and my wife’s chronic disk pains and her fibromyalgia pain as well. We do it almost every day, combining it now with moxibustion treatment. End Note
Feb 10, 2012 — Making the charcoal for the saunas takes around a week. The charcoal is first put inside a kiln and heated. On the seventh day, the charcoal is …
by S Hayasaka · 2008 · Cited by 19 — In South Korea, the same process (hereinafter referred to as ‘charcoal kiln saunas‘) called jjimjilbang (zzimzilbang) have also traditionally been used for …
Jan 25, 2019 — LK SPA is equipped with three kinds of sauna rooms—Maifanshi, loess, and fire, with temperatures ranging from low (50°C) to high (100°C). The …
Aug 27, 2010 — But to South Koreans, these clay kilns used to produce charcoal at night, are doubling as luxury spas by day. The tradition of sitting in …
We have finally mastered the art of brewing home Kombucha, and are enjoying a glass of this miracle drink every morning along with our home made kefir and our power smoothies. If I keep this up I will live to be a hundred years old. Only 45 more years to go….
Ode to Kombucha
Kombucha
Only drink it in the morning
Morning delight
By the dawning sun
Up at the morning dawn
Can’t wait for my morning cup
Have to have my kombucha
At least once a day
Ode to Kefir
Kefir
Everyday
Food of the gods
In every way
Radiant health will follow
Blue Berry Smoothie – Breakfast of Champions
my daily breakfast
includes blue berries
in my smoothie
blueberry,
strawberry,
oranges
banana,
pineapple,
home made kefir
kale
spinach
wheat grass
macca root
apple cider vinegar
coconut oil
stevia
honey
cinnamon
all blended to perfection
that is my daily breakfast
fit for a champion
THE SIMPLE GUIDE TO KICKASS KOMBUCHA
It’s a big day everyone! The day your intestinal microbiota have been begging you for. The day you say goodbye to expensive store bought kombucha. The day you become a brewmaster as I impart on you the secrets of homemade kombucha!
The goal of this guide is to be your one stop shop for homemade kombucha brewage, from SCOBY-less to fermented perfection. No hopping around the interwebs. No fuss. No confusion. Because making homemade kombucha is so simple (albeit a bit slow), and I hope after reading this you’ll give it a whirl! Let’s hop right to it.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE KOMBUCHA: OVERVIEW
This post will go into detail about each step in the process of making kombucha. For succinct instructions, scroll to the bottom where a recipe card lays out the basics of making homemade kombucha. The general order of things goes something like this (you can jump around this tutorial by clicking the links below):
Before we start, here are some general notes that are consistent throughout the whole homemade kombucha process.
No metal or plastic containers. Metal can react with the acidic kombucha and hurt your SCOBY, while plastic can house nasty bacteria that you don’t want sneaking in.
Clean is key. A recurring theme in kombucha brewing is that EVERYTHING must be CLEAN! We’re creating the perfect environment for good bacterial growth, but if a bad bacteria slips in, it could ruin your batch (and make you pretty sick).
Temperature plays a role. Fermentation goes a bit quicker in warmer temperatures, and a bit slower in colder.
No mold zone. If you see any mold growing on your SCOBY or in the tea (which I understand can be difficult to discern from the hideous SCOBY, but will generally be green, white, or black), then toss your whole batch.
Milk kefir is not only easy to make, it is a delicious, probiotic-rich, versatile beverage your whole family can enjoy. Whether you are just exploring how to make milk kefir at home or have cultured dairy before, this video and instructions are here to help make culturing milk kefir at home easy.
If you have purchased our dehydrated milk kefir grains, please follow the instructions included with your milk kefir grains or watch our how-to video on How to Activate Milk Kefir Grains to get started.
If you wish to use raw milk to make milk kefir, be sure to activate your milk kefir grains using pasteurized milk first. You can then slowly transition them to raw milk.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE MILK KEFIR
To get started, first, gather your supplies and choose a variety of milk to use.
Transfer the active kefir grains into up to 4 cups of fresh milk.
Cover with a coffee filter or butter muslin secured by a rubber band or jar ring.
Place in a warm spot, 68°-85°F, to culture.
Culture until milk is slightly thickened and aroma is pleasant. This generally takes 24 hours, but can take less time in warmer temperatures, so keep an eye on your grains.
As your milk kefir grains grow in size, you may choose to remove the kefir grains by hand. Make sure your hands are very clean and well rinsed, but do not use anti-bacterial soap to avoid contaminating the culture.
Use a Plastic Mesh Strainer
Sometimes milk kefir can be a bit thick. If necessary, you can use a silicone spatula or plastic spoon (in a swirling motion) to help work the kefir through the strainer. Stainless steel can be used if necessary; just be sure it’s stainless steel and not a reactive metal.
Pour Kefir Into A Shallow Bowl
This will make the grains easier to see. Using a plastic or wooden spoon, scoop the grains out. Once the grains have been removed, pour the finished kefir into a container.
OVER-THICKENED KEFIR
While kefir sometimes turns out to be thin, it is also possible for kefir to over-thicken or turn into curds and whey. If this happens, you may need to strain your kefir grains with extra care. You can find tips in our Straining Over-Thickened Kefir tutorial.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Following the above process you can make milk kefir at home on a regular basis. If after making milk kefir for a while you decide you don’t need 4 cups every day, it is possible to make smaller batches. Just choose a method in our tutorial How to Slow Down Making Milk Kefir + Make Smaller Batches.
Resting Your Milk Kefir Grains
If you ever reach a point where you need to take a break from making milk kefir, there are a few ways you can put your kefir grains on pause. This includes refrigerating them for shorter breaksor drying them for longer breaks.
In either case, it’s important that your grains have been activated and culturing kefir regularly for 3 to 4 weeks before you attempt either of these resting methods.
I have been going to Korean saunas in Korea and a few in the states for decades. First introduced to them during my peace corps days.
Recently I discovered Korean Charcoal saunas.These were popular decades ago and have recently been re-discovered.They are apparently a great cure for all sorts of ailments.
They differ from traditional saunas in a number of ways. First they burn wood to make a charcoal heat that is then pumped into rooms. The temperature is much higher and drier than traditional saunas.In fact, to enter the fire room next to the fire pit, you have to wear special clothes, take off your glasses and only stay in for a few minutes at a time.
Second most do not have soaking tubs unlike traditional saunas.
Third the actionis all co-ed.You take a shower in the men’s locker or woman’s locker then go out to the charcoal sauna main room.
Most have some simple food for sale as well.
The procedure is you go from low heat to high heat ending in the fire room which is closest to the fire pit. You also stand or sit outside the fire pit.
Benefits
The idea is that the infrared heat will penetrate your bones and system heating you up and killing off inflation and pain.Supposed to do wonders for fibromilyagia, artists and cancer. Not to mention cholesterol and weight control, I’ve lost five pounds since I started going to the charcoal sauna a few weeks ago.
Where to Find Them?
These saunas are mostly located north of Seoul in the mountain villages of Northern Gyeongi and Gangwon province.There are a few in northern Seoul as well, including one near Yonsei University, which also has a more conventional sauna as well as the Charcoal sauna.
These saunas are very Korean-I am usually the only foreign visitor. They are friendly though and welcoming to foreign visitors. Worth a visit but you will have to go with a Korean because they are definitely off the tourist beaten path.
Cosmos’s Excellent Vietnam Journeys
I first went to Saigon with my spouse, Angela, back in 1995 when I was in Bangkok working for the Embassy and she was in the military in Texas. We spent two wonderful weeks and always wanted to go back. This winter we decided we would go to either Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia and left in early March, escaping the cold weather a bit.
Food in Saigon
Personal comments
Vietnam has a well deserved reputation as a foodie’s paradise. The food is good to great, mostly inexpensive although there are some expensive places.
Other Asian cuisines are widely available, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Thai, Cambodian, Laotian.
Western style food is available and on the expensive side. American Fast food is available at least in the bigger towns but while bother going?
There is such a wide variety of styles of food to choose from among the traditional Vietnamese styles of food. Saigon city has so many restaurants one could spend decades eating every night at a different place and never run out of options.
There were a few foods that stood out though
Vietnamese style omelets – they do eggs right
Ban Chua is a Hanoi style of small plates sort of like the Vietnamese version of Tapas. Quite good and tasty.
Bahn Mi Sandwiches – they are everywhere. I liked them but my wife not being able to tolerate gluten did not and she thought that the sanitations standards on the street banh mi stands were not up to her standards. Still widespread and good.
Pho – of course
Lots of varieties to try. We liked the chicken Pho which is a bit hard to find in the US where they tend to mostly serve the beef Pho
Craft Beer Vietnam has recently gone through a craft beer boom. The craft beer is great. A bit expensive double the cost of the standards but still great. But just as in Korea where craft beer has taken off some places advertise craft beer but all they have is the regular crap on tap. And there are two craft beer companies that dominate the market, it is hard to find other craft beer places but they do exist.
Traditional Vietnamese rice wine – did not get a chance to try but will try it on my next trip.
Local Vietnamese wine – who knew they even made it here? Not that good but much better than years before. Probably worth a try just to say you tried it
Snake and scorpion wine – would like to have tried it by my spouse vetoed the idea
Artichoke tea – sounds weird but it tastes like hot chocolate! And is one of those great foods for lowering cholesterol etc.
Guava tea – tastes great like green tea
Coffee – a coffee lovers paradise would be nice to find a decafe option though
Tea – a tea lovers paradise as well
Tropical fruits galore – loved eating tropical fruit for breakfast especially soursop
Vegetarian food options- widespread available almost everywhere
Vegan options – not as common but widespread
Gluten free – unheard of concept but if you avoid eating fried noodles and stick with rice noodles (usually clearly labelled as such) you can eat gluten free
Trends I like to see emerge
Gluten Free options
MSG free – too much MSG used everywhere
Artisanal Rum – Vietnam like most Asian countries just don’t get rum. Bacardi is available in tourist friendly areas but other than that no one does decent rum. Yet you could make rum easily enough as they grow a lot of sugar cane. The Thais do a decent job with their Mekong whiskey which is a rum. I wished they would quit calling it Whiskey! Otherwise rum is just not common in the region.
Promotion of traditional Rice wine
Good stuff should be more widely available and promoted
Artisanal local whiskey – if you can make decent craft beer you should be able to make decent local artisanal whiskey
Asiana Food Town
Five Oysters
Bing Thang Street Food Market
Le Jardine
Nha Hang Ngon
On my prior trip I hit Appocalypse Now!
And on my next trip, I must go to Jake’s BBQ because as a Jake why the hell not? Needs me a Jake’s bbq t-shirt, don’t ya think? Now if there is a Cosmos club or Resturant I will have to go there as w
Vietnam Poems
Cosmos’s Excellent Vietnam Journeys – Day to Day Journal
Summary: arrived at airport about 1 pm. Went to AIRBNB. We stayed at two different AIRBNB, both in the Pham Ngu Lou area near the backpacker street but not on the strip. Both were nice, comfortable enough. Lots of restaurants, coffee shops nearby. Not too far from tourist sites. We went everywhere by Grab, Saigon’s version of Uber. Uber pulled out of Southeast Asia and sold their operations to Grab. It took a bit to figure out the app but once we did it was great.
We went out for lunch, and walked about, walked to the Bing Thang market, largest street market in District One. Bought fruit for breakfast, had dinner at Vietnamese Japanese Resturant
Saigon is divided into 24 districts but most things that would appeal to tourists and visitors are located in Districts one, two and three. District one is the downtown district and has most of the tourist sites. District Two is across the river and is popular with diplomats and long term expats. Filled with upscale Western and Vietnamese restaurants. The government has announced a long term project to build a new city there that is modelled after Gangnam. Lots of construction already underway. District three is near downtown and has lots of nice restaurants as well. District four is across the river and is the center of the expat Asian community, lots of Koreans and Japanese living there. District Five is the old China town. Still lots of Chinese around. It is also where most of the traditional pagodas are located. And has a large traditional market. We went. It was very confusing but interesting to see.
Transportation is chaotic still. The subway is under construction, first line linking district one and two opens next year, eventually there will be seven lines and a high speed train to Hanoi. The buses are cheap and run everywhere but we did not try them. Taxis are plentiful but Grab is more convenient and cheaper. And there are motorcycle taxis everywhere – fastest and cheapest way to get around. The old pedicabs are a thing of the past – we only saw a few.
Breakfast at home kefir
Lunch pho at Pho 54 near Cinemax
Dinner Korean Japanese Resturant on Pasteur street
Wednesday March 6 exploring backpacker’s street dinner at street buffet
Met old friend who lives in Vietnam. Walked about the backpacker’s district. Had decent lunch and dinner.
Breakfast fruit
Lunch had Vietnamese steak
Dinner in Ngu Lao Backpackers Street grilled morning glory, seafood noodles
Drinks coffee beer
Seeing Ghosts
Inspired by a true story – I was looking at an old American who could have been a Vietnam vet back for a trip. He was sitting in a bar drinking a beer. He looked at me and smiled a wistful WTF where the Fuck am I bemused look. I looked up and a few seconds later the old man had disappeared and I felt that I had been seeing a ghost and that there were ghosts all over the city. Very eerie feeling that stayed with me all day and inspired the two following poems
Ghosts in Saigon
I walk around the streets
Of old Saigon
Seeing sensing the undead
The ghosts of the war
That haunted life
So many years ago
So many people died
For a war
That never should have been fought
For reasons that are still not clear
A great tragedy unfolded
In a land half away
Around the world
The ghosts smile at me
And then they disappear
Leaving me in the present
Life goes on
Old Ghosts
Old ghosts wandering the streets of old Saigon
Lost spirits of the dead
Died during the endless wars
Ghostly apparitions around every corner
Here was Kilroy and his gang of soldiers
Over there were the Viet Cong waiting to kill them
Saigon is filled with memories like that
Terrible times were had here in Old Saigon
Silently the ghosts parade the city streets
Thursday March 7 Mekong Delta
Long but good day. Went on a Mekong River tour. The tour guide was knowledgeable and spoke decent English. Most of the passengers were Aussies, there were a few Japanese, and Koreans and Europeans, we were the only Americans. In general, you don’t find that many Americans, most of the white tourists are Aussies, Canadians or European.
We stopped off at a bamboo and coconut products store. That was marginally interesting. Then we took several boat rides before we ended up having lunch. Lunch was decent. We had some time to walk about a traditional working orchid. Saw alligators, porcupines, fish. Also saw snake wine for sale. Did not partake though.
Mekong Dreams
Traveling along the Mekong
Back in time
Seeing the river
The people
Imagining life on the river
Imagining the war
The past in the Mekong delta
And the present tourist boom
Yet life goes on
With its own laid back rhythm
As we traversed the river
We were transported back
To an earlier time
Following the ancient rhythms
Of the Mekong Delta
On the way back we stopped at a famous Buddhist temple. Vietnamese Buddhist temples are different from Korean temples. Different style of Buddhism. The temples are everywhere, not just in the mountains like in Korea. Most Vietnamese are probably nominally Buddhist, but there are many Catholics especially in the South, and many adherents to Cao Dai, the local religion, see below. The officially promoted atheism of the communist era is fading away.
Buddha In Vietnam
In Saigon I saw the buddha
Buddha images are everywhere
Temples are scattered about
Here and there and everywhere
Buddha lives on
In the hearts and minds
Of the Vietnamese soul
The communists tried
To get rid of Buddhism
And other religious traditions
But they failed
And Buddhism has come back
Still speaks to the Vietnamese people
A different style
A different vibe
Than Korean Buddhism
But still Buddhist thought
Prevails in the tropical lands
Of the South
Breakfast Banhmi and coffee on the street
Lunch rice, seafood lunch on Mekong
Dinner stir fry morning glory, seafood noodles in Pham Ngu Lao Backpackers Street
Beer
Friday March 8
Breakfast fruit
Lunch Resturant at Le Jardin salmon, salad
Dinner with VCQ Cholan Chinese Resturant
Whiskey wine too much
Met with old friends from my foreign service days. Had lunch at a French Resturant in the French Cultural center. Food was decent. Wine was plentiful but a bit too much. Walked about went to the market headed home took a nap. Went out to Cho Long district five near Saigon University.
Met Vietnamese friends of our friends. Had a great time, winning and dinning at a Chinese Resturant. A bit too much though.
Saturday March 9 Lunch in District 2 with VC2
Met our Vietnamese friends at his house in District Two. He runs an home interior business and is a very lively man. Delightful company. Had a great lunch.
For dinner had a simple dinner near our house and went to bed early.
Sunday March 10 lunch at Sheraton, Dinner at hotel Equatorial
On Sunday met our Vietnamese friends and some Belgium doctors for lunch at the Sheraton hotel. Their bunch is a great value. And in the evening went to dinner at Hotel Equatorial and ate a lot more. Gained too much weight with all the wine, whiskey and food.
Vietnamese like to eat and drink and entertain. Like Koreans in that regard. But everything is much cheaper.
Monday March 11 walking tour of downtown with friend
Met my friend, Jeff, for lunch. We ate at the Five Oysters which was decent. Had Vietnamese Omelet. Then we walked all over district one seeing the sites.
We saw the Post Office, the main Cathedral, City hall, FinTech tower, Dong Khoi street and Pasteur street and finally had dinner at the Bing Than market street food stall before going home. http://www.fiveoysters.com/
Breakfast fruit
Lunch at Five Oysters
Dinner at Bing than Market street food stalls pad Thai, papaya salad
Drink beer
Coffee Lady
Every morning
I have gone out for Vietnamese coffee
At a sidewalk café
Down the ally from our AIRBNB
The owner is a pleasant middle age woman
Who for some reason likes us
She smiles at us
Greets us in Vietnamese
She does not understand English
Or Korean
And I wonder why
Why was there this connection
Between us
It dawned on me
Perhaps in a prior life
She knew an American or two
And I remind her of someone
Or perhaps she is found
Of Korean K drama
And Angela reminds her
Of her favorite K Drama star
Or perhaps it is both
Or another reason entirely
But I moved today
And will miss her
Might go back for a final cup
Of coffee
To say good bye
To my Vietnamese coffee lady
Tuesday March 12 moved, laundry
We spent the day moving to another AIRBNB, doing laundry and taking it easy. Lunch and dinner in the backpacker’s street. Tried Bun Cha which is a Hanoi version of Tapas. Pretty good. Discovered the Asiana Food Court. Great place to eat. We came back there several times. Lots of choices of food. Great prices, and delicious. Bought fruit for our remaining breakfasts.
Mastering the Saigon Shuffle
Motorbike riders waiting at intersection. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
When I first visited Saigon
Learning the Saigon Shuffle
Was difficult
And now 24 years later
It all seems to be coming back
There is an art to crossing the street
Dodging the motor cyclists, the taxis, the private cars
The bikes and other pedestrians and the buses
The art consists of letting the big guys go first
Then walk between the motorcycles and cyclists
Trusting that they will get out of your way
And they being masters of the Saigon shuffle
Always find a way
In my two visits I was struck
By how it all flows together
Without a central authority
And with almost no planning
Lights or cops
Somehow it just is
And somehow it works
And it is still a mystery to me
24 years after first
Encountering the Saigon shuffle
Breakfast: fruit, coffee
Lunch: omelet, morning glory stir fry Pham Ngu Lao Backpackers Street
Dinner: ban Chua Hanoi style Vietnamese Tapas small plate dishes
Drinks: Alcohol beer
Drinks: tea coffee
Vietnam has great art. Last time we were here we bought four pieces from an iconic Vietnamese artist who has moved on. He painted on oyster shells and his work is quite unique. We wanted to find out more about the artist but were unable to find out much about him. We went to the HCH Fine Arts museum. That is worth a trip. Great art.
From Wikipedia
Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts is the major art museum of HCM City, Vietnam, and second in the country only to the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts in Hanoi.
The museum covers three three-floor buildings which house a collection featuring Vietnamese art works in sculpture, oil, silk painting and lacquer painting, as well as traditional styles including woodcut paintings in the Hang Trang, Đông Hồ, and Kim Hoàng styles, as well as Vietnamese ceramics and a collection of ancient Buddhist art.[1] The first floor also includes a commercial gallery of art works. Archaeological exhibits such as some of the country’s best Champa and Óc Eo relics are displayed on the third floor.[2]
The main building was constructed by a French architect Rivera between 1929 and 1934 as a villa for the Hua family. The museum moved there in 1987.[3]
Saigon center
Walked to the Saigon Center, one of the premier shopping plazas in District 1. Not bad but overrated I think.
From Wikipedia:
Phase 1 of the complex was completed in 1996.[1] The phase consisted of a 25-storey building, which set a new record for the highest building in Vietnam then at 106 metres (348 ft).[2]
In December 2011, construction on phase two started, which comprises a 5-story retail podium and a new 43-story building. The new addition prompted a temporary closure of the existing tower from 2015 to 2016.[3]
On July 30, 2016, Takashimaya opened their first department store in Vietnam at the retail podium of Saigon Centre.[1] Tower 2 completed in 2017 reaching the height of 193.7 m (635 ft). It becomes the fourth tallest building in Ho Chi Minh City and the tenth tallest building in Vietnam overall.
Features[edit]
Saigon Centre provides over 46,000 m2 (500,000 sq ft) of office space across 10 floors in Tower 1 and 18 floors in Tower 2.[4][5] Sedona Hotels operates all 284 residential units at the complex.[6]
Dinner at the market place
We had dinner at the Asiana food market. Great location, great food selections. Well worth a visit.
Old Lady in the Alley
There is an old Vietnamese lady
In the neighborhood
Obviously senile
But everyone knows her
And watches over her
To make sure
She stays out of traffic
And out of trouble
She talks to everyone
But no one seems to understand
What she is babbling on about
They smile at her
And she smiles back
Reminds me of the phrase
From the hitchiker’s guide to the galaxy
Mostly harmless
And she for some reason
She likes us
And like my Vietnamese Coffee lady
I wonder why
Why was there this connection
Between us
It dawned on me
Perhaps in a prior life
She knew an American or two
And I remind her of someone
Or perhaps she is found
Of Korean K drama
And Angela reminds her
Of her favorite K Drama star
Or perhaps it is both
Or another reason entirely
But in any event
I look forward
To seeing her smiling face
Every time I walk
Down my ally way
Cosmos’s Excellent Vietnam Journeys part two week two journeys
Finally figured out how to use Grab the SE Asian version of Uber. Grab bought Uber’s business back in 2016 and is the region’s largest ride share service. They do a lot of other things and are very aggressive. Based in Singapore. Started out as a MBA project idea in Harvard by a Malaysian student. He returned to the region, started in Malaysia moved to Singapore when the business took off. They were rumors at the time that Grab stole Uber’s technology, in any event it is very similar concept except that they targeted taxi drivers rather than individual drivers and most of their drivers work for them full time. They also do the motorcycle taxis, food delivery, mobile payment services.
So had a better day. We went to Binh Tay market in Cho Long District 5. A bit off the tourism path but we saw some foreign visitors. It is a sprawling complex reminding both of us of Korea back in the day. We bought our coffee and tea. When we go back we are making more Kombucha and we will add moringa to our fake coffee and my plan is to have a real cup of coffee per day and fake coffee the rest of the day. I think I can handle that.
Good walk. We hit four of the five temples recommended and saw the edge of the electronics market and we saw some other interesting places in the neighborhood.
The temples were
Thien Hau Temple (Ho Chi Minh City)
________________________________________
Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda is situated at Cholon, Ho Chi Minh City. It was built in the 19th century by the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation making it one of the oldest temples in Saigon. It is dedicated to Guan Yu, a holy general who was greatly respected for his morality and loyalty and lived in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and greatly respected for his morality and loyalty.
This pagoda is also known as Quan Cong and also named The Whale Temple and Quan De temple. The exterior of Nghia An Hoi Quan Pagoda is closely that of a Chinese temple. The frontage door of the temple is painted with door gods. Hoi Quan Pagoda is just like that of a Chinese temple. The pagoda is mainly well known for its enormous collection of figurines, carvings and hanging lanterns but it is especially notable for its gilded woodwork, a carved wooden boat hangs over the doorway and there is a larger-than-life illustration of Quan Cong’s horse and groom to the left. The horse statue is considered holy to the devotees. People ring the bell around its neck and then crawl under it to go to the other side. They suppose that by doing this they are blessed from the horse. And you can see a big wooden statue of Quan Cong himself at the altar. Nghia An Hoi Quan is also outstanding with ceramic statues on roof tiles or carved with flowers, unicorn statues, parallel sentences, and many invaluable paintings. Such these displays are delicately carved, showing myth stories of China in Saigon to teach next generations. Moreover, Nghia An Hoi Quan is pastoral with images of daily life and colors of life for many generations of rural farmers. This pagoda celebrates with offerings to the spirits and dances staged out front on the 14th day of the first lunar month. This temple is worth the visit.
Had a great massage in a Vietnamese massage parlor recommended by Korean tourists on Naver. Near Saigon center.
Future VCQ
Saigon is filled with interesting characters
Filled with fascinating back stories
One could write hundreds of stories
About the people one encounters
In a nail shop
That caters to mostly Korean visitors
We met a boy of 8 years old
Who was a natural born hustler
He had wonderful English
Wonderful French
And even some Korean
And he wanted to show us around
He spoke English
Without an accent
In an upper class British style
As if he were born to the manor
How and why he learned
English so well
Would be an interesting story
His Mother was also
An interesting character
Been running the store
For five years
Amused it had become the Korean
To Go place
In Saigon
Just one of those mysterious things
They had another shop nearby
A smoothie place
And he offered to guide us there
But were in a hurry
As we left
I thought to myself
Here is a future VCQ
The fascinating character
That had wined and dined us
Late into the night
Beguiling us with his tales
From his time in the VC
Wonder what this future VCQ
Will tell his future friends
About his past life
Living in a beauty saloon?
Had spring rolls and papaya salad from a vegan Resturant. The spring rolls were great, the papaya salad not so great
Breakfast fruit
Lunch chicken, rice, bread, eggs – one of the better meals
In coffee shop chain called energy coffee or something like that only 7 US Dollars
Dinner – spring rolls, and papaya salad at a vegan Resturant
Wine in room
Friday March 15 District 2 Tour
We went to district 2 across the river in search of a place for Angela to get her hair done and for me to get a massage. We went there after a haircut in a place advertised as an old fashioned barber shop. Had a good haircut but a lousy shave. Still need to find a good barber = next trip.
We found the perm place. We also discovered that District 2 is filled with rich Saigonese, expats and diplomats. It is a quiet suburban district but is soon going to be transformed as the city of Saigon has ambitions to turn District 2 and District 9 into something equivalent of Gangnam. The rest of Saigon especially districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11 are too build up. They are building a new international airport and they building a new subway system. When the whole thing materializes by 2025 or so, Saigon will be a very different city.
I hope that they don’t destroy Saigon in order to save it as they have in Seoul. Gangnam in a way has lost its sense of being Korean as it could be any large city in Asia. Seoul now has two different faces – the northern part which still retains a lot of the old charm of Korea and the Southern part which is newer but perhaps lacking in having a real Korean flavor.
And I hope that they can and will incorporate lots of solar power, water harvesting and other echo friendly solutions which are sadly lacking in Gangnam and in Korean cities in general .
We met with a real estate agent who talked to us at length about investment options in Saigon highly recommending buying something in District 2 but not waiting too long. He said that within a few years it will be a very different place.
We had a decent lunch in District 2, went back to Binh Thang market and the food market/court where had dim sum for dinner.
District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
For other uses, see District 2.
District 2
Quận 2
Thủ Thiêm or Quận Thủ Thiêm
Urban district
Position in HCMC’s core
District 2
Location in Vietnam
Coordinates: 10°46′51″N 106°45′25″ECoordinates: 10°46′51″N 106°45′25″E
Country Vietnam
Centrally governed city
Ho Chi Minh City
Seat 249 Luong Dinh Cua
Wards 11 wards
Area
• Total 50 km2 (20 sq mi)
Population
(2018)
• Total 168,680
• Density 3,400/km2 (8,700/sq mi)
Demographics
• Main ethnic groups predominantly Kinh
Time zone
UTC+07 (ICT)
Map showing the location of District 2 within metropolitan Ho Chi Minh City
District 2, in which the new urban area of Thu Thiem is located, is an urban district of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As of 2010, the district had a population of 140,621, a total area of 50 km².[1]
Thu Thiem Tunnel
In the past, District 2 was one of the poorest parts of Ho Chi Minh City due to the separation by the Saigon River from the city center. However, it is now the one of the prioritized area for investment by the government of Ho Chi Minh City. The completion of Thu Thiem Bridge in 2008 and Thu Thiem Tunnel in 2011 were expected to support the development of the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area. Thu Thiem Tunnel joins District 2 with District 1 (Central Sài Gòn), the central area of Ho Chi Minh City. The other connection of District 2 to the central city area is the Thu Thiem Bridge, which connects District 2 and Bình Thạnh District. The transportation to District 2 will be much easier when the metro, whose route passes through District 2, comes into use. This will be the first metro in Vietnam, and it will help Ho Chi Minh City to catch up with other developed cities in the world.
The Vietnamese government is seeking to build a completely new district for wealthy citizens as well as a new economic center. Thanh Nien and Tuổi Trẻ, two newspapers in Vietnam, describe that the new District 2 will be as modern as Singapore and Hong Kong.[citation needed]
Less prosperous agricultural workers of District 2 have been forced to move in slum clearance measures. Thatched houses will be replaced by multi-story house and villas. A few single-family homes will be constructed for those with large[clarification needed] incomes. A large number of citizens would go on living in high-grade apartment blocks. Each block contains swimming pools, tennis courts, shopping malls, and other necessary services. There will be kindergartens, elementary schools, and high schools, but there will be no university, as all the universities are being moved to Thu Duc district to form the University Village, which is another plan of the city government. Beside the residential area will be the economic and trade zone with modern skyscrapers.
District 2, particularly Thảo Điền ward, has a large portion of Ho Chi Minh City’s expatriate community, and as such has a large number of restaurants, bars and shops selling European foods, particularly the high street Xuan Thuy. Traffic has become a major problem in District 2 due to its proximity to several international schools and many residents who travel by private vehicle.[citation needed]
District 2 is home to many international schools, partly because of the high number of foreign residents, and also because of its proximity to District 1. Below is a list of schools that are in this area:
• International School Ho Chi Minh City,[2] 28 Vo Truong Toan Street, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• British International School Vietnam has the An Phu Primary and An Phu Secondary campuses[3]
• Australian International School, Vietnam,[4] 264 Mai Chi Tho Road, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• EUROPEAN International School Ho Chi Minh City
• Deutsche Schule HCMC – The International German School (IGS)[5]
• EtonHouse International Pre-School Franchise – An Phu,[6] Somerset Vista, 628c Hanoi Highway, An Phu ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
We will go back to district 2 for the perm on Monday and lunch and perhaps finish our touring before heading back.
Breakfast fruit
Lunch spring rolls, oyster soup
Dinner – Dim sum, pho, fried morning glory
Seductive, sexy, strange
Alluring city
In the south of Vietnam
Goddess of the southern lands
Over all she rules
Nothing but the Queen of the land
Dreaming dreams of past greatness
Recalling the glory days of the past
Equally dreaming of the coming of the future
As she resumes her place
Maybe becoming the greatest city of them all
Saigon long may she reign
Saturday March 16 National history museum, Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Lunch with friends
Combined with the botanical garden, spreads out quite some distance. A bit confusing and the signs are all in Vietnamese except for the name of the animals. But none the least a pleasant enough walk. The zoo is in need of a major face lift and major renovation, it looks and feels like a zoo from the 1950’s. The animals are well cared for but look bored and sad as they do in most zoo’s.
Some of the birds are running around outside the enclosures which I found a bit unusual.
Not much options in terms of food which also surprised me.
The van took you on a set course but did not stop and let you get on and off which I found annoying.
All in all not quite ready for prime time. But worth a visit.
Botanical Garden
Combined with the zoo, might be better as a separate park – serious lack of signage or explanations throughout.
The best botanical display was the orchid house but I wished it had some English signage. The dessert plants display would be better off if it were in a sealed off building to prevent rain and humidity.
Same comment – not quite ready for prime time
Following is the Wikipedia entry
Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Main gate to Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens, established in 1865, is Vietnam’s largest zoo and botanical garden. Located on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in District 1, T.P. in Ho Chi Minh City, it is home to over a hundred species of mammals, reptiles and birds, as well as many rare orchids and ornamental plants.[1] Also within the grounds is the Museum of Vietnamese History, housing some 25,000 artifacts of history, culture and ethnography of South Vietnam. The grounds also include a temple to the Hung Kings (formerly a monument to Indochinese soldiers who died for France during World War I). Other parts of the zoo are divided into animal and plant conservation areas, an orchid garden, and an amusement park.
On March 23, 1864, Admiral Pierre-Paul de La Grandière, commander of French forces in Cochinchina, commissioned the building of a zoo in Saigon. Malacologist Louis Germain was named the director of the project on March 28, 1865.[2] Construction started on 12 hectares (30 acres) northeast of Thi Nghe Channel, and the zoo occupied 20 hectares (49 acres) by the end of 1865. On February 17th, 1869 the zoo opened to the public, and today the Saigon Zoo is one of the oldest continuously operating zoos in the world.
The Saigon Zoo has undergone many changes over the years. In 1927, a bridge across Thi Nghe Channel was built to connect sections of the zoo. In 1985, a stone jetty was built, and electrical wiring was added to improve the zoo.
In 1989 the facilities received many improvements to make the environment more suitable for its resident population. In 1990, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden was recognized as a member of the South East Asian Zoos Association. In 1993, the zoo director proposed a long-term plan to improve the quality of management, housing, and care of the animals. That plan came to a close in 2003. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens is now the largest zoo and botanical garden in Vietnam.
The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden contains 590 animals of 125 species and 1,830 trees and plants of 260 species, some of which are over 100 years old. This includes 20 species of orchid, 32 species of cactus and 34 species of bonsai. The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is divided into an animal conservation area, a plant conservation area, an orchid garden and an amusement park.
The botanical garden contains many species of rare and valuable plants, some of which are not native to Vietnam. There are species of cacti, ferns and plants that have been imported from Africa and America. The zoo has many kinds of mammals, reptiles, and birds such as: monkeys, giraffes, white Bengal tigers, Clouded Leopards, African lions, gibbons, turtles and snakes. Besides native animal species, there are also many exotic species, some of which are seen in Vietnam for the first time, such as: Hippopotamus amphibius, Choeropsis liberiensis, Panthera onca, Struthio camelus, Phoenicopterus ruber. There are lakes with contain different types of lotuses and a myriad of fish species.
The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden contains two noteworthy buildings: a temple to the Hung Kings, originally built as a monument to Indochinese soldiers who died for France during World War I; and the Museum of Vietnamese History. The museum is split into two sections: a 15 room-area displaying items from the beginning of Vietnam to 1930, and a 6 room-area displaying artifacts from the culture and history of South Vietnam. Outside of the museum there is a large yard that displays the weapons of France, used during Vietnam’s French colonial era. The museum also contains approximately 25,000 documents of history, culture and ethnography. The zoo employs approximately 1,000 workers, and estimates that it attracts over two million visitors each year.
Conservation and education[edit]
The main purpose of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is to educate the public and protect endangered animals and plants. One of many programs the zoo participates in to protect endangered species is one to breed animals in captivity, the goal being to replenish their populations. The Saigon Zoo is currently the only zoo in the world that has successfully bred crested argus pheasants in captivity.
In addition to conservation, in 1999 the zoo’s conservation education department created a plan to educate the public about how to protect animals and plants. Each year, 3,200 students visit the zoo and listen to an hour-long lecture and watch a 30-minute film about animal and plant conservation. It is also a place for people from all over the world to study the fauna and flora of Southeast Asia.
Location[edit]
The zoo is at 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, T.P. in Ho Chi Minh City. It has two gates: a main gate on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street at the corner of Le Duan Street and another on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.
My Additional info:
Hours 9 to 5 daily
Cost 50,000 dong – 2.5 US.
They give you a fare card that you insert into the entry machine.
National History Museum
Worth a visit. Well done. Some obligatory pro-communist propaganda here and there but not overwhelming in your face as in the War Museum and Independence palace.
Museum of Vietnamese History
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bảo tàng Lịch sử Việt Nam
Location 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Type History museum
Website baotanglichsuvn.com/trang-chu.html
The Museum of Vietnamese History is located at 2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Formerly known as the Musée Blanchard de la Brosse, built by Auguste Delaval in 1926, and The National Museum of Viet Nam in Sai Gon, it received its current name in 1979. It is a museum showcasing Vietnam’s history with exhibits from all periods.[1] It should not be confused with the National Museum of Vietnamese History in Hanoi. The topics covered by the exhibits include the following:
• Prehistoric period (500,000 years ago to 2879 BC).
• Metal Age (2879–179 BC), including artifacts related to the Dong Son culture of northern Vietnam and the Sa Huỳnh cultureof central Vietnam.
• Chinese Domination and Struggle for National Independence in the Red River Valley (179 BC – 938 AD)
• Óc Eo culture of the Mekong Delta region
• Stone and bronze sculptures and other artifacts of Champa
• Stone sculptures of Cambodia (9th–12th centuries)
• Ngô, Dinh, Anterior Lê, Ly dynasties (939–1225)
• Tran and Ho dynasties (1226–1407)
• Dynasties from the Lê to the Nguyên (1428–1788)
• Tây Sơn dynasty (1771–1802)
• Nguyễn dynasty (1802–1945)[2]
The museum served as the pit stop for the second leg of The Amazing Race Asia 3.
Further reading[edit]
• Lenzi, Iola (2004). Museums of Southeast Asia. Singapore: Archipelago Press. ISBN 978-981-4068-96-3.
External links[edit]
Water Puppet Show:
The national museum has a decent water puppet show. It is only 20 minutes long and gives you a taste of the real thing. There are other places in town to see real performances. I think I want to see the real thing next time. But well done nonetheless. Reminded me vaguely of Korean mask dances or kabuki theater. Very highly stylized with deep historical meaning that is hard for a casual observer to pick up on.
An additional fee of 30,000 dong about 1.25 US well worth seeing.
The wiki leaks article below provides a lot more detail:
We were staying in an AIRBNB a few blocks away from Pham Ngu Lao, the famous backpacker street. So, we went there a lot, booked our two out of town tours there, changed money etc. It is a real happening scene Saturday night when they block off the street and it becomes an open air non-stop party. In some ways like the French Quarter in New Orleans, in some ways like Khaosang Road in Bangkok, in some ways like Itaewon in Seoul but done in Saigon style. We noticed a few “girly bars” here and there but nothing like in Bangkok, and we herd there are other areas for that sort of thing but that is not our scene. And some people were smoking the evil weed – we smelled it here and there. And we noticed that the scene continues on the surrounding streets as well, just not as intense.
So, if you want a loud boisterous party with lots of people from all over the world including Vietnamese this is your place, if you want a more civilized quiet night life zone there are lots of other choices to be had.
Breakfast: fruit in room boiled eggs
Lunch at Nha Hang Ngon 160 Pasteur Street, Saigon
There are two restaurants with the same name near each other. This is the original and better of the two. There was a dispute between partners and they split up and operate two restaurants with the same name. Apparently not an uncommon phenomenon, one of the massage places we went to on the Korean recommended listing changed its name because another place has the same name and people were confused between the two according to the owner.
Had decent grilled pork chop Saigon style, nice spring rolls, and sausages and wine. Late lunch so that was sort of dinner too!!!
Dinner corn
Drinks red Wine
Down and Out in Saigon
Southeast Asia, and Mexico
has always attracted
A certain type of westerner
The down and out
On a down word spiral
Why?
Relatively cheap to live
Lots of part time gigs
Teaching English
Or other things
Booze, drugs, sex
Readily available
And cheap
Places to stay
Dirt cheap
And no one needs
To sleep out doors
Easy to disappear
Into the foreigners backpackers ghettos
And escape
From whatever you are running from
The locals are somewhat tolerant
The police usually look the other way
And there are lots of people
In your shoes
I was surprised to find
That Saigon has become
The latest place
For the down and outer crowd
To gather together
In Bangkok one sees them a lot
In Cambodia as well
In the Philippines
In Nepal
And south of the border
In Mexico as well
In India not so much
In Japan and Korea
Just too damn expensive
And too cold to be outdoors
Back in the day
I used to work
The citizen services gig
And saw lots of the down and outer set
The old song comes to mind
No one remembers you
When you are down and out
And in the States
Being down and out
Means living on the mean streets
As it is very difficult
To live with almost no money
And the various side hustles
Don’t give you much money
Unless you are dealing drugs
And teaching ESL
Is not an option
Food is expensive
Transportation is expensive
Booze and drugs expensive
Rent is prohibitive
Commercial sex is expensive
And no one loves you
If you are down and out
No one knows your name
You are just another homeless bum
Invisible to all
As you try to make do
Much better to be down and out
In Southeast Asia
Than on the mean streets
Of the USA
Sunday March 17 Chu Chi Tunnels
Lacquer Ware Factory
As part of the tour we stopped off at a lacquer ware factory that employs artists injured by agent orange exposure. Funded by the Gates foundation. Had an interesting lecture on lacquer ware. Some nice pieces but did not exactly fit our needs. So we passed on buying them.
Lacquer painting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lacquer painting is a form of painting with lacquer which was practised in China and Japan for decoration on lacquerware, and found its way to Europe both via Persia and by direct contact with Asia. The genre was revived and developed as a distinct genre of fine art painting by Vietnamese artists in the 1930s; the genre is known in Vietnamese as “sơn mài.”[1]
Making a lacquer painting may take several months depending on the technique used and the number of layers of lacquer. In Vietnam’s sơn mài lacquer painting first a black board is prepared. Then outlines in chalk are picked out in white with eggshell and clear varnish, then polished. Then the first layer of coloured lacquer is applied, usually followed by silver leaf and another layer of clear lacquer. Then several more layers of different coloured lacquers are painted by brush, with clear lacquer layers between them. In Vietnam an artist may apply up to ten layers or more of coloured and clear lacquer. In Ming China processes included up to a hundred layers. Each layer requires drying and polishing. When all layers are applied the artist polishes different parts of the painting until the preferred colours show. Fine sandpaper and a mix of charcoal powder and human hair is used to carefully reach the correct layer of each specific colour.[2] Consequently, “lacquer painting” is in part a misnomer, since the bringing out of the colours is not done in the preparatory painting but in the burnishing of the lacquer layers to reveal the desired image beneath.[3]
Lacquer had been used since the Shang dynasty (1384-1111 BCE) for decoration and preservation of wooden objects. By the Han dynasty decoration had become more intricate.[4] Lacquer painting is sometimes used for decoration of wooden objects such as the traditional “Chinese candy box”.
Vietnam[edit]
Công Quốc Hà “Hanoi girl” 1997
Lacquer painting, known as sơn mài, from resin of the sơn tree, Rhus succedanea, was developed in Vietnam as a freestanding form, separate from decoration of wooden objects. A revival and a combination with French techniques occurred in the 1930s which was closely associated with the French teachers and Vietnamese students of the École Supérieure des Beaux Arts de l’Indochine in Hanoi from 1925 to 1945 such as Joseph Inguimberty and Nguyễn Gia Trí.[5][6] Among the prominent newer generation of Vietnamese lacquer painters is Cong Quoc Ha, who received numerous awards and his works are regularly exhibited worldwide.
Cao Dai Temple
The Cao Dai temple is a must see in my opinion. The Cao Dai religion is a new religion founded in the 1920’s that combines elements of Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Catholicism. They even have a pope and bishops. It is common in the South, but not that common elsewhere in Vietnam. The temple is extraordinary.
All the religions of earth
Into a new religion
For a new era
Founded in Vietnam
It has spread across the Vietnamese diaspora
Across the globe
But it is a very Vietnamese thing
It seems you can’t escape the past
Religion is like that
It roots you in to a time and place
And you will obey its teachings
Until the day you die
That is the power
And tragedy of religion
Chu Chi Tunnel
The highlight of the trip was of course the famous Chu Chi tunnels about 50 miles from Saigon. They played a key role in the defeat of the US military and the Vietnamese are justly proud of their engineering prowess in building these tunnels.
Crawling down the tunnels
Of Chu Chi
I could almost imagine
The Viet Kong guerillas
Hiding deep under the tunnels
As the land above is turned
Into a temporary dessert
With the vegetation burned off
By napalm and agent orange
The Viet Kong creep out at night
Stealing onto the bases
Stealing weapons, food, supplies
And occasionally killing soldiers
In their sleep
The US soldiers
Stay on base at night
Terrified of the mosquitos
And of the Viet Kong
the ghosts
Surround me
Telling me their stories
And at last I fled
Through the emergency escape tunnel
Declaring victory
Profoundly shaken up
By the ghosts of the Chu Chi tunnels
Monday March 18 return to Korea
Went to District two for a hair cut for Angela, and lunch. Afterwards had a massage and then drank a craft beer before heading home. Had a great two weeks in Saigon. We will be back!
Over all reflections Saigon 2019 vrs Saigon 1995
Thinking back about how things have changed since our last trip, it struck me that Saigon reminds us both of Seoul in the late 80’s as it emerged to become the world class city it is now. Same energy, same determination, same visionary desire to become a world class city.
Things that have changed
Fewer Scams, Safer, lots more foreign tourists
Back in 1995 Saigon was a dangerous place to visit. Lots of scams, lots of pick pockets, lots of beggars and it was chaotic and confusing. Now the beggars are gone, fewer pickpockets, fewer overt scams, much friendly, lots more foreign visitors, lots more English spoken. Much more pleasant a place to visit.
Motorcyclists wearing Helmets
Back in 1995 few motorcyclists wore helmets and traffic fatalities were widespread. Now almost every where is wearing a helmet and we did not see any traffic accidents. Bus are more widespread, as our taxis and grab (Vietnam’s uber) is everywhere. Lots easier to get around.
Lots more to Do
There is definitely a lot more to do. Lots of places to eat, and drink. More museums, more temples, more everything. And everything is still super cheap.
Backpackers ghetto
Was just beginning when we last visited. Now it is a large and colorful part of the city. Much more diverse tourist crowd – lots of Aussies, Europeans, Asians, but still few Americans.
Fewer Vietnam war vets – they dying off
The Vietnam war veterans are beginning to die off. Because well the war ended a long time ago. But you still saw a lot of American veterans wandering the streets coming back to visit the country they first saw as military conscripts so many years ago.
More English
Definitely a lot more English than before. And google translate makes it so much easier to communicate!
Asian Tourists outnumber Western Tourists, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans Everywhere
Back in 1995 there were few Asian tourists in Vietnam. Now they are everywhere. Koreans, Japanese and Chinese tourists are all over the place. The Vietnamese have embraced Korean culture, K Drama is very popular, as is K Pop and K food.
Much more developed tourism infrastructure
The tourist industry has grown up. So many options to chose from and the tours we went on were professionally run, informative and inexpensive. We have so many places we want to travel next time we come.
AIRBNB did not exist 25 years ago. Now AIRBNB places are everywhere as our guest houses. Travel costs are low accommodations are good. Restaurants are great. Food is fantastic.
Things that remained the same –
Fascinating city, Great food, Still pretty cheap, friendly people, Traffic still chaotic
What we did last time
Saigon with a driver and guide
We hired a driver and a guide for a private tour last time. We saw a lot of the city but never really got the hang of the place and we were rushed here and there and ate in five star restaurants when we wanted to see the city as locals would. All in all we were a bit disappointed and spent too much money. This trip was much more enjoyable.
Buying Art –
we bought some nice art work last time – lacquer ware paintings. We met the artist through his nephew who was staying at the same guest house that we were staying at.
Touring Traditional Market
We did a tour of traditional markets, probably Ben Thang market.
Buying gold
We bought some gold which we still have
Re-unification Palace
We saw the re-unification palace which was impressive
War Memorial
And we saw the War Memorial which was a bit too in your face for our liking.
Hanoi
We spent a week in Hanoi. We stayed at the at the government guest house. We were among the first independent American tourists in Vietnam as we arrived a week after the Embassy opened. We had lunch and dinner with the Consul who was a friend from the Embassy in Bangkok. We enjoyed touring old quarter the old quarter had lunch and dinner there. West Lake district was nice as well.
Conclusion – Don’t know why it took 25 years to return but we will definitely be back many times. And you should go if you have not been
When we moved to Yeongjong island, near the Incheon Airport,we found that we would be deprived of two of our three favorite miracle foods, Kombucha and Kefir. But we were pleasantly surprised to find we could order our third favorite health food item, wheat grass for home delivery. Have not seen it in the stores but have seen it in some smoothie places as well as home delivery. best to mix it in a smoothie. Wheat grass juice does not taste that great!
Growing Kombucha and Kefir in Korea
Kombucha
Living in Oregon was great. Kombucha is everywhere. Costco carries Kombucha everywhere except in Korea. The best brand we found was the gingerade. But I liked sampling the kombucha everywhere, a number of bars brew it on site and you can fill up a growler and take it home.
What is Kombucha you ask? It is fermented tea, filled with powerful probiotics and it is so good for your health. It does contain 1 percent alcohol so that should not get you into trouble with the new draconian drunk driving laws here in Korea!
Since neither the Commissary nor Costco or anyone else carried it, or even knew what it was, we decided that we had to brew it ourselves. The starter kit we brought with us had gone bad. So we bought kombucha from Amazon and used that and the left over starter kit to get started.
We used green tea as the base. Straight black tea and jasmine tea will work but not earl grey due to the bergamot oil in the tea.
We brewed up several gallons of tea, added sugar, the starter kit and the cans of kombucha. Then we put it in a sprouter warmer kit ordered from Amazon and wrapped another gallon in an electric blanket. You got to keep the kombucha at about 80 degrees F (26.67 Celsius).
Then we waited for six weeks. Finally ready to go today and we bottled it and started our next batch!
Here’s what it looks like with the scuzzy taken out of the kombucha.
kombucha
Kefir
Making Kefir was easy, we’ve been making it for years. We had started kits we bought in Oregon before we left. Just got some organic milk and we were in business. If you have to use Korean milk, make sure it is full fat milk, 2 percent makes watery kefir. There are recipes for using almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk but we have not used them because we heard it would be pretty watery. Might want to try Goat milk sometime though. The Commissary’s organic full fat Milk is perfect. You can also buy Kefir at the Commissary just to see if you like it but their Kefir has extra sugar in it and I am not sure it would be a good starter mix. Best to order the starter kits from Amazon (they will deliver to a local address) and you should not have any problems. But with both be sure you sanitize your containers with hot boiling water before making either kombucha or kefir. Need to keep stray random non-cultured bacteria out of the mix.
See below for articles on the health benefits of Kombucha and Kefir, articles on how to make it, and where to buy it locally.
As a personal testimony a few years ago I noticed that I did not have hay fever in the Spring. I used to have to make a trip to the urgent care/ER because I got so inflamed that I could not even open my eyes and I was sneezing so bad. The medicine they gave me worked a bit but I mostly just suffered. Then I started eating kefir for breakfast and drinking Kombucha and my hay fever disappeared.!
Kombucha is now widely available in Korea. My brother-in-law even has a side hustle, making Mama Kombucha. You buy it in stores and some coffee shops. Endiya caries it, Star Bucks does not. The US commissaries carry it and larger Korean grocery chains carry Kombucha now.
Bing AI provided some places where you can find Kombucha and Kefir in Korea. The commissaries carry it, a few larger grocery chains now carry both.
TEAZEN is another company that offers kombucha in powder stick form, which you can mix with water or juice. They claim to be the world’s first to introduce this convenient way of consuming kombucha. You can also order their products online from their website3 or find them in some supermarkets and convenience stores.
Homebrewing is an option if you want to make your own kombucha at home. You will need a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), tea, sugar, and a glass jar. You can buy a SCOBY online or get one from a friend who already brews kombucha. There are many online tutorials and recipes that can guide you through the process of making your own kombucha.
Making your own kefir at home with kefir grains and milk. Kefir grains are a mixture of bacteria and yeast that ferment the milk and produce kefir. You can buy kefir grains online or get them from someone who already makes kefir. You will also need a glass jar, a cloth, and a rubber band to cover the jar. There are many online guides and videos that can show you how to make kefir at home1 .
Visiting a kefir cafe where you can enjoy fresh kefir drinks and other products made with kefir, such as smoothies, ice cream, or cheese. Some examples of kefir cafes in Korea are Kefir Lab in Seoul, Kefir House in Busan, and Kefir Story in Daegu .
I hope this helps you find kefir in Korea. Cheers!
